PhD Candidate in Drone Detection and Interception Solutions

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU); Trondheim; On-site; NOK 522,000 - 638,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentor programme as a new employee at

Favourable terms with SPK pension

Open and inclusive working environment

Job summary

NTNU in Trondheim invites applications for a PhD Candidate position in Engineering Cybernetics. You will conduct research addressing counter-drone threats to critical infrastructure, publish findings, and collaborate with national and international partners within the project portfolio.

The role includes possible teaching duties, participation in conferences, and international research stays, with a focus on bridging software and hardware in real-world environments.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in control engineering, cybernetics, aerospace engineering, electronic systems or mechatronics with 120 credits at master level.
• NTNU grading scale: average grade B or better or equivalent.
• Eligibility for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Program.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate in a diverse team.

Responsibilities

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate.
• Carry out research of good quality within the described framework.
• Publish academic works and disseminate results.
• Collaborate with other PhD candidates and researchers in the project.
• Participate in international activities and research stays.
• Engage in NTNU UAV‑lab activities and teaching duties if needed.

Skills

control engineering

cybernetics

aerospace engineering

electronic systems

mechatronics

Education

Master's degree (5-year Norwegian program)

120 credits at master's level

Job description

About The Position

Drones are increasingly considered as a security threat to society, including civilian critical infrastructure. Counter-drone systems must monitor the airspace as an integral part of a multi-layered air defence system, with functionality for detection, tracking and mitigating drone threats. Defending critical infrastructure such as railroads, bridges, power plants, power lines, airports, harbours, water supplies and more is challenging in a large country with complex geography and harsh climate. The PhD project will therefore research counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) concepts and contribute to develop and test solutions that are specially targeting Norwegian needs.

About The Project

The position is part of the project “Managing drone threats to critical infrastructure” as one of four PhD candidates. A resilient society depends on safe and robust critical infrastructure, including the ability to withstand drone attacks. The war in Europe and hybrid threats have shown that such systems can be deliberately targeted using low-cost, commercially available technology, and the Government’s drone strategy identifies reducing vulnerability to hostile use of drones as the greatest and most urgent challenge. As threats and technology evolve rapidly, new uses of drones must be met quickly with adapted countermeasures. The project aims to contribute to a more resilient society by developing knowledge and technological solutions to understand, manage and respond to drone threats and attacks against critical infrastructure. The project is part of a larger effort of four projects funded by NTNU on A More Resilient Society.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate.
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above.
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination.
• Participate in the research in the project “Managing Drone Threats to Critical Infrastructure”. and collaborate with the other PhD candidates and researchers in the project.
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions.
• Collaborate with other PhD candidates, researchers and UAV operators at the NTNU UAV‑lab.
• Carry out career‑enhancing work as part of the project. This can include teaching duties.

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required Selection Criteria

• You must have a relevant Master's degree in control engineering, cybernetics, aerospace engineering, electronic systems, mechatronics, or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five‑year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 27th of August 2027.
• You must have a strong and relevant academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker academic background, you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education, for example through relevant work experience and/or peer‑reviewed academic works.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Program. See Section 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information.
• You must have knowledge and skills within minimum one of three core topics
  • guidance, navigation control and control,
  • arial robotics/UAS systems or
  • sensor, detection and tracking systems.
• You must be able and be motivated to communicate and collaborate in a team with a diverse academic background and complementary skills. This includes academics from other disciplines and non‑academics.
• Motivated to work on both software and hardware and making systems work outside of simulation environments.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.

Preferred Selection Criteria

• You have knowledge and skills within several of the topics
  • guidance, navigation control and control,
  • arial robotics/UAS systems (or closely related systems),
  • sensor, detection and tracking systems,
  • wireless communication system or
  • relevant electric systems.
• Practical experience with development or use of aerial drone systems, aircraft or air defence systems.
• Having both theoretical and practical (relevant) skills.
• The research activity may lead to using sensitive information or insights into critical infrastructure that is subject to specific security restrictions. Restrictions also include obtaining a formal security clearance. During the employment period candidates must voluntarily submit to an assessment for a security clearance according to the Norwegian Security Act. Non‑Norwegian citizens can be granted clearance. However, candidates from non‑EEA or non‑NATO countries cannot expect to obtain a security clearance.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian equivalent level A2 or higher as this is important when communicating with both project participants, students and with organizations outside of NTNU as part of the work within the project.

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:

• Work both independently and in teams
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
• Communicate well in writing and orally
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow‑up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favourable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender‑balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be from NOK 580 000 per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

The employment period is for 3 years for the doctoral work, in addition to the possibility of up to 1 year of career promotion work for the right candidate. A minimum of three work years of the total term period must be dedicated to doctoral work.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD program in Engineering Cybernetics within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral program throughout the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

Application deadline: 20.11.2026

The city of Trondheim

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidised day‑care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Engineering Cybernetics (ITK)

Engineering cybernetics is the study of automatic control and monitoring of dynamic systems. We develop the technologies of tomorrow through close cooperation with industry and academia, both in Norway and internationally. The Department contributes to the digitalization, automation and robotization of society. The Department of Engineering Cybernetics is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.