Postdoc Flight Operations and Interfaces for Hydrogen-Powered Propeller Aircraft

Qabird; Delft; On-site; EUR 60.000 - 80.000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace research institution is seeking a Postdoc to work on the HAPPS project focused on Hydrogen Electric Propulsion systems. This role involves collaborating with TU Delft to model and evaluate operational impacts and safety, creating innovative designs for control systems. The ideal candidate holds a PhD in engineering and has strong skills in research and collaboration, contributing to sustainable aviation efforts. This full-time position is located in Delft, Netherlands.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Excellent pension scheme

Opportunities for education and training

Support for relocation services

Qualifications

• PhD in (aerospace) engineering or related field.
• Experience with user-interface and procedure design and experimental evaluation.
• Ability to learn quickly and work autonomously.

Responsibilities

• Develop and test safety and operational impacts of Hydrogen Electric Propulsion.
• Collaborate with staff and students on modeling and analysis.
• Set up and conduct experiments in simulation.

Skills

Engineering skills

Technical and software skills

Analytical capacity

Proficiency in English

Collaboration and coaching skills

Education

PhD in engineering

Job description

Challenge: Impact propulsion systems on operations.

Change: New interfaces and procedures. Impact: Contribute to sustainable aviation.

Job description

In this Postdoc position, you will be working on the HAPPS project. The HAPPS project investigates the possibility of Hydrogen Electric Propulsion (HEP) for powering aircraft for short and medium length routes. The transition from turbine engines and wing tanks to a combination of hydrogen containers, fuel cells, electrical power buffering, with its associated cooling and heating requirements will introduce changes in instrumentation and flight deck procedures.

In this project, adaptations to flight deck instrumentation and procedures are developed and tested in manned simulation, and the safety of operations needs to be reassessed. You will work with TU Delft staff and students, developing and using relevant models of the HEP system to assess operational impact and safety, creating an integrated design for the control and monitoring of the propulsion system. This project focuses on human‑machine interaction; a second post‑doc addresses automation and monitoring, with the collaboration resulting in an integrated human‑automation design. Using the simulation facilities, the SIMONA Research Simulator (https://simona.tudelft.nl), you will also set‑up demonstrators and manned evaluations of the developed system.

The project is a collaboration between several companies and research institutes in the Netherlands and TU Delft. The work will be performed at TU Delft at the Control and Simulation (C&S) section. The C&S section of the faculty of Aerospace Engineering aims to advance the development of autonomous control systems and combined human‑machine systems in aerospace, building on a solid theoretical basis and physical insights while exploiting theoretical progress in adjacent fields, and to validate these systems experimentally in world‑class facilities, effectively closing the loop between theory and practice. C&S aims to be a leading research group in the integration, development and testing of new theories on control, autonomous and cognitive systems (with and without human elements).

Job requirements

We are looking for a candidate with a PhD degree in (aerospace) engineering, or a related field with strong skills in engineering. You will be working with staff and students on modelling, analysis, interface and procedure design and experimental evaluation. You meet or exceed the following qualifications:

• PhD in engineering, and a strong affinity for human‑machine interaction research; or PhD in experimental or engineering psychology, and strong engineering skills
• You have the necessary technical and software skills to adapt and augment existing flight simulation experiment programs.
• You have skills to set‑up the experiments (including subject instructions, set‑up of test protocols, application for human research ethics approval) and elaborate the experiment results.
• Ability to learn quickly and work autonomously, and strong analytical capacity.
• Ability to collaborate and to coach MSc students.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Experience with Hydrogen Electric Propulsion systems is welcomed, but not strictly required.

TU Delft

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world‑famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem‑solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Aerospace Engineering

The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.

When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward‑thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab—into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace, assisted by an active Diversity & Inclusion team. This includes tangible support such as funding for extra personnel for family and caregiving responsibilities, mentoring programmes, and initiatives that promote cultural exchange and integration.

You don’t just join our faculty — you join a community where you can thrive, grow, and help shape the future of aerospace.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years
• A job of 36–40 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch
• 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.

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

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact dr. René van Paassen, Associate Professor, via [e-mail].

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 4 Jan 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to dr. René van Paassen, Associate Professor.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Applying for an exemption for specific research and educational areas is an obligatory part of the selection procedure for this vacancy. This exemption must be obtained from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) before an employment contract is agreed upon. Click here for more information.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.