Postdoc Ammonia-fuelled SOFC-ICE Power, Propulsion and Energy System - Ship integration

Delft; Delft; On-site; EUR 47,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ABP pension

Annual employment package

Discounts with health insurers

Leave hours (232 per year)

Education opportunities

Parental leave

Vitality program

Job summary

TU Delft seeks a postdoctoral researcher to advance the AmmoniaDrive concept by addressing ship integration of a NH3-fueled SOFC-ICE power plant. You will study performance, design and operation for a benchmark vessel with ammonia transport capabilities, focusing on design, modelling and safety compliance.

The project involves collaboration with MARIN and industry partners, and requires a PhD in Mechanical or Marine Engineering, plus proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink.

Qualifications

• PhD required in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering or similar.
• Strong command of English and proven ability to collaborate.

Responsibilities

• Investigate NH3-fueled SOFC-ICE power plant integration for ships.
• Develop time-domain simulations of ship voyages and port operations.
• Explore power/energy management strategies and safety regulation compliance.
• Disseminate findings to academic and industrial partners.

Skills

English communication

Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering and/or Marine Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

GT-Power

Job description

Postdoc Ammonia-fuelled SOFC-ICE Power, Propulsion and Energy System - Ship integration

The AmmoniaDrive project partners are looking for a post-doc that will bring the AmmoniaDrive concept closer to realisation by addressing ship integration aspects.

Decarbonizing shipping? Ammonia is considered by many as an effective hydrogen carrier and sustainable e-fuel for sea-going vessels and other heavy-duty applications, mainly because of its promise of being a cost-effective, carbon-free and relatively energy-dense fuel. However, choosing ammonia as a sustainable shipping fuel does not yet solve the question of how the energy stored in ammonia can be converted into useful (mechanical or electric) power on board of ships. AmmoniaDrive offers a unique solution to this question: a single-fuel, high-efficiency, zero-emission SOFC-ICE power plant that will fit on board of ships without sacrificing range and speed.

In this postdoc project, part of the larger AmmoniaDrive project, you will investigate the performance of the NH3-fueled SOFC-ICE power, propulsion and energy system, when it is applied on board of a ship capable of transporting ammonia (a benchmark vessel, with an ideal size and operational profile for the project, is available). Ammonia carriers are expected to be vital for a florishing global hydrogen economy and as such are very good candidates to become early-adoptors of the AmmoniaDrive concept. You will investigate ship design and integration aspects, part-load operation (e.g. in port), off-design and transient loading performance, power and energy management strategies and compliance with safety regulations, to name a few of the unsolved challenges. As part of the AmmoniaDrive team you will have access to the latest insights, developments and modelling techniques as established by the nine PhD researchers within the research project as well as to the enthusiastic AmmoniaDrive partners (10+ maritime companies).

Topics in scope of this position include:

• Gather insights into AmmoniaDrive Power Plant fundamentals, working principles and operational limitations.
• Gather relevant design and engineering information from AmmoniaDrive partners (e.g. Anthony Veder, Bureau Veritas, C-Job Naval Architects) for a specific case study vessel (e.g. ammonia / chemical tanker).
• Investigate new modelling approaches and sub-model improvements to enable time-domain simulations of ship voyages and port operations together with MARIN's Zero Emission Laboratory to assess performance, emissions, transient loading capability and to test power&energy management strategies.
• Disseminate your findings to the scientific community and industrial partners.

More information on the AmmoniaDrive project:

Candidates for this challenging project have a PhD degree and background in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering or similar. Good communication and writing skills in English and the ability to collaborate are necessary as well.

Being a postdoctoral researcher at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well with colleagues and project partners.

Need-to-have:

• A PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering or similar.
• Good communication skills in English.
• Experience with Matlab, Simulink, GT-Power or similar relevant engineering software packages.

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 Mechanical Engineering

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the‑art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well‑being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 1 year. Temporary.
• A job of 36-40 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• 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.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service , offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. .

Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact dr.ir. P. de Vos at [e-mail] or [phone].

Faculty/Department: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

FTE: 1,0

Submission is possible until: 23 Nov 2026