Laboratory Technician IEPG Group

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft); Delft; Vor Ort; EUR 44.000 - 69.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) invites applications for a Laboratory Technician in the ESP Lab to support the UTOPYS program. You will help operate a large-scale real-time simulation environment, connect hardware to software, and assist researchers in experimental studies.

You will join a team focused on intelligent electrical grids, grid automation, and substation technologies, contributing to safe, efficient lab operations and hands‑on support for researchers and students.

Qualifikationen

• MBO/HBO degree in Electrical Engineering, Energy Technology, Power Systems, or related field.
• Practical experience with electrical power systems, substations, or transmission and distribution networks.
• Understanding of power system protection, control, and automation principles.
• Experience with power system simulation platforms, SCADA systems, RTDS, OPAL-RT, or similar technologies is an advantage.
• Familiarity with communication protocols and digital substation concepts (IEC 61850) is desirable.
• Hands‑on, analytical, and solution‑oriented, with strong troubleshooting skills.
• Comfortable working in a multidisciplinary research environment with researchers, students, and industrial partners.
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

Aufgaben

• UTOPYS Research Infrastructure: support installation, operation, maintenance and expansion of the simulation platform and lab infrastructure.
• Power System Models and Simulation: assist in configuring, validating and operating real-time power system simulations.
• Substation and Grid Technologies: contribute to modelling and validation of substation equipment and protection schemes.
• Simulation Platform Integration: build hardware‑in‑the‑loop setups linking simulators to physical equipment.
• Technical Support for Research Teams: assist researchers, PhD candidates, students and partners in experiments.
• Laboratory Operations and Safety: ensure safe lab operation and compliance.

Kenntnisse

Power systems operation

Troubleshooting

Multidisciplinary teamwork

English communication

Ausbildung

MBO/HBO degree in Electrical Engineering or Energy Technology

Tools

RTDS

OPAL-RT

SCADA systems

IEC 61850

Jobbeschreibung

Join the IEPG group and help build the next generation power system research infrastructure by integrating real-world grid hardware with advanced real-time simulation and digital substation technology.

Job description

UTOPYS (Understanding Large, Complex Power Systems) is a ten-year programme to build a new theory of large, complex power systems, enabled by the a state-of-the-art real-time power system simulator. As Laboratory Technician, you will help build, operate, and maintain this large-scale real-time simulation environment and its laboratory in.

Key Responsibilities:

• UTOPYS Research Infrastructure

Support the installation, operation, maintenance, and expansion of the UTOPYS simulation platform and associated laboratory infrastructure.

• Power System Models and Simulation

Support researchers in configuring, validating, and operating real-time power system simulations and experimental environments.

• Substation and Grid Technologies

Contribute practical expertise on power system operation, substation equipment (relays, IEDs, merging units), protection schemes, and grid automation to support realistic modelling and experimental validation.

• Simulation Platform Integration

Build and configure hardware-in-the-loop setups, connecting simulators to physical equipment through I/O interfaces, cables, communication networks, measurement systems, and other related software and hardware components.

• Technical Support for Research Teams

Assist researchers, PhD candidates, students, and industrial partners in preparing and operating experimental setups and simulation studies.

• Laboratory Operations and Safety

Ensure safe operation of laboratory facilities and compliance with laboratory procedures.

You will become a member of the ESP Lab team, headed by Lab Manager Sandra Dordevic. The ESP Lab team is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and development of the department’s research infrastructure and experimental facilities supporting research and education activities. Your work will primarily focus on supporting the Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG) section, headed by Professor Peter Palensky, with a particular emphasis on the UTOPYS programme. This position offers an excellent opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary environment together with researchers, students, utilities, manufacturers, and industrial partners, contributing to the development of future sustainable and resilient power systems.

About the Department

The Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy addresses the technical, scientific, and societal challenges of the energy transition through research in:

• DC Systems, Energy Conversion and Storage (DCE&S)

• Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD)

• Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG)

• High Voltage Technologies (HVT)

The department provides expertise across the entire electrical energy system chain, from generation and conversion to transmission, distribution, and end-use applications. The department operates the Electrical Sustainable Power (ESP) Lab, one of Europe’s largest academic power systems laboratories. The ESP Lab hosts advanced facilities for high-voltage testing, DC grids research, power electronics, protection and control, digital substations, and real-time power system simulation, supporting research and education in future energy systems. The Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG) section conducts research on the operation, control, digitalisation, and resilience of future power systems, with a strong focus on real-time simulation, digital twins, cyber-physical energy systems, protection and control, and grid automation. UTOPYS is one of its initiatives, providing a unique large-scale platform for power system simulation and experimentation.

Job requirements

• MBO/HBO degree in Electrical Engineering, Energy Technology, Power Systems, or a related field.
• Practical experience with electrical power systems, substations, or transmission and distribution networks.
• Understanding of power system protection, control, and automation principles.
• Experience with power system simulation platforms, SCADA systems, RTDS, OPAL-RT, or similar technologies is an advantage.
• Familiarity with communication protocols and digital substation concepts (e.g. IEC 61850) is desirable.
• Hands‑on, analytical, and solution‑oriented, with strong troubleshooting skills.
• Comfortable working in a multidisciplinary research environment with researchers, students, and industrial partners.
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground‑breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 5 years. Temporary 2.2A.
• A job of 38-40 hours per week.
• A salary based on Scale 10 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €3706 - €5760 gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Additional information

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Prof. Peter Palensky, via [e-mail].