EngD in Digital Textile Manufacturing and Systems

1000scholars; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday allowance

8.3% year-end bonus

Pension ABP (TU/e contributes 70%)

Full-time, 2-year contract

Job summary

TU/e in Brainport Eindhoven is offering an EngD trainee position to advance digital, circular textile production. You will design and build experimental setups with textile producers and machine builders, linking machine settings to design files and turning data into actionable insights for operators and partners.

The role emphasizes collaboration with operators and researchers, with supervision and growth opportunities in a public-private fieldlab.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Industrial Design or a related field is required.
• Strong design orientation and ability to work in a team.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Design, build and adapt experimental textile machine setups with partners.
• Apply data science, ML and AI to turn production data into insights.
• Analyze how data-enabled production affects the ecosystem from design to recycling.

Skills

Design thinking

Team collaboration

Data science mindset

Education

Master's degree in Industrial Design

Job description

Job description

Are you inspired to make textile production digital, circular, and scalable for SMEs? Are you eager to turn machine, production, and ecosystem data into insights with data science, ML, and AI, working hands-on with real machines and their makers, to redesign complete textile value chains?

Information

Textile machines are often digital, but they are rarely connected or ready for data-driven work with machine learning and AI. Much of the production knowledge still lives in the heads and hands of operators. As a result, designers, producers, repairers and recyclers work in isolated steps, and valuable know-how and material are lost along the way. As an EngD trainee, you will help prepare textile production for the AI and ML age, and you will show how production and prototyping data can inform and redesign the complete value chain.

What you will do

You will design, build and adapt experimental machine setups with textile producers and machine builders, for example by adding sensors and controls or by linking machine settings to design files. You will use data science, machine learning and AI to turn machine, production and ecosystem data into insights that operators, designers and partners can use. Beyond machines, you will analyze how data-enabled production affects the wider ecosystem, from design and material choices to small-batch production, repair, reuse and recycling.

Working with people

This is a collaborative role. You will learn from operators and technicians, co-design with small companies, and turn fieldlab learning into workflows, demonstrators and open knowledge that others can build on. You will work in a public-private fieldlab with TU/e, industry, design researchers and the Dutch Textile Campus, with close supervision and room to grow as an engineer.

Why it matters

Your work helps Dutch textile SMEs meet new European circularity rules without losing their own craft, and keeps textiles and materials in use for longer. Moreover, the semiconductor industry in Eindhoven was built with engineering companies who made machinery for Textile companies. In this project we look to see how the knowledge generated informs all industries in the region.

Requirements

• A master's degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Industrial Design or related field.


• A design-oriented attitude.


• Ability to work in a team and interest in collaborating with industrial partners.


• Fluent in spoken and written English.

Conditions of employment

Fixed-term contract : 2 years. A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station.

In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for two years.


• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale TOIO (€ 3.173 gross per month (full-time)).


• In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.


• Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.


• As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.


• High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.


• An excellent technical infrastructure, and on-campus children's day-care.


• Unlimited access to the modern on-campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.


• We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.


• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working-from‑home and internet costs.


• A TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network, and offers tailored support, training and workshops.


• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme ) and a compensation for moving expenses.


• On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

Employer

TU/e

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands‑on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact – today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven – a world-leading tech region with more than 7,000 high-tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.