Research Officer

Auckland University of Technology (AUT); Auckland; On-site; NZD 72,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

A fixed-term, full-time Research Officer role based at AUT’s City Campus in Auckland is available to contribute to a Blue Economy CRC project. The 15-month position sits within an 18-month project and involves developing a digital twin prototype for energy analysis of renewable–hydrogen DC microgrids.

You will collaborate with university and industry partners, publish research, and assist in preparing external funding proposals. Start date by negotiation (no later than 15 January 2027).

Qualifications

• PhD submitted or conferred in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, Energy Systems or renewable energy.
• Strong publication record and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with modelling and simulation tools, especially MATLAB/Simulink.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate a physics-based digital twin prototype in MATLAB/Simulink using facility data.
• Analyse scenarios for renewable-energy use, hydrogen production, storage, efficiency and reliability.
• Perform data quality assurance, analysis and disseminate findings through publications.
• Support integration of thermal-management and waste-heat-recovery modelling.
• Prepare external funding proposals and contribute to future project development.

Skills

Communication

Collaborative work

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Health & safety awareness

Digital twin modelling

Hydrogen storage knowledge

Thermal-management modelling

Grant applications support

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering or Renewable Energy

Conferred PhD desirable

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

• Develop a digital twin of a 700 kW renewable–hydrogen production and research facility
• Join an AUT-led Blue Economy CRC project with university and industry partners in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia
• Fixed-term (15 months), full-time role based at AUT’s City Campus in Auckland

Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is New Zealand's newest university and one of its most distinctive. Centred on students and grounded in knowledge that works , AUT is 5-star rated by QS, with more than 27,000 students and 4,000 staff based primarily across three Auckland campuses. It's a place of real opportunity, where the values of Pono, Tika and Aroha shape how talented, progressive people work together – and you'll feel that in the culture, in the collaboration and in the difference the work makes for students, communities and the world.

Our community is stronger because of the role Te Tiriti plays in how we operate, and because Māori and Pacific knowledge, leadership and contribution are central to who we are. We embrace diversity in all its forms and are proud to welcome people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socio-economic situations and accessibility needs.

AUT’s School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences brings together engineering, computing and mathematics to address complex, real-world challenges. We develop ambition, capability, knowledge and passion across these disciplines.

We foster graduates who think critically and work across disciplines, applying their knowledge in practical, high-impact ways. Learning is shaped by industry practice, project-based work, access to specialist facilities and laboratories, and opportunities to engage directly with organisations. This approach ensures students build confidence working on real problems and understand the expectations of professional environments.

Our expertise spans data science and artificial intelligence, electrical and electronic engineering, mathematical sciences, and mechanical engineering, with research across areas such as intelligent systems, infrastructure, data and emerging technologies.

Our subjects are internationally recognised, with several engineering disciplines ranked in the top 500 and computer science and information systems in the top 450 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.

Part of AUT’s Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies – Te Ara Auaha, we are part of a transdisciplinary community of creative, technical and entrepreneurial thinkers, makers and researchers, working in an environment designed to foster imagination and innovation.

We have a fixed-term, full-time (37.5 hours per week) opportunity for a motivated Research Officer to contribute to the Blue Economy CRC research project Development of Digital Twin Prototype for Energy Analysis of Renewable–Hydrogen DC Microgrids (P.3.26.005) . The 15-month position sits within this 18-month project, which is led by AUT in collaboration with the University of Tasmania and Griffith University.

The project is developing a prototype digital twin of the Blue Economy CRC Hydrogen Production and Research Facility in Hobart, Tasmania. The facility integrates a 700 kW PEM electrolyser, solar PV, battery storage, a hydrogen-fuelled microturbine, hydrogen compression and storage, an emulated renewable source, and a programmable load. The digital twin will allow new operating strategies to be explored without risk to physical assets, and will provide the technical foundation for transferring operational knowledge to future offshore renewable–hydrogen microgrids. Working within a multidisciplinary research team, you will contribute to:

• Development and validation of a physics-based prototype digital twin in MATLAB/Simulink using facility data
• Scenario analysis of renewable-energy utilisation, hydrogen production, storage, efficiency, and reliability
• Data quality assurance, analysis, and dissemination through high-quality publications
• Support for the integration of thermal-management and waste-heat-recovery representation, undertaken mainly by a Research Assistant
• Preparation of external research funding proposals and future project development

You will publish your research in peer‑reviewed journals and conferences. Research at AUT is central to our mission, driving innovation, informing teaching and creating real‑world impact for communities, industry and society. You will also engage with industry partners and contribute to the follow‑on funding proposal.

Please see the position description available for more information.

At AUT, research staff combine research, collaboration and engagement to create meaningful impact. You will work closely with researchers across disciplines and institutions, and contribute to projects with industry and academic partners.

We’re looking for researchers with curiosity, energy and openness to new ideas , who are committed to collegiality, cultural humility and respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Indigenous peoples and diverse communities. Experience contributing to Indigenous, equity or inclusion-focused initiatives is highly valued.

1. Qualification:

• A PhD thesis submitted for examination in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, Energy Systems, Renewable Energy, or a closely related discipline.
• A conferred PhD is desirable.

2. Research and technical expertise:

• Evidence of research publication output.
• Knowledge of renewable‑energy systems, microgrids, energy storage, or hydrogen energy systems.
• Experience with modelling and simulation tools, particularly MATLAB/Simulink.
• Ability to analyse measured time‑series data and validate models against it.

3. Skills and attributes:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary, multi‑institution teams.
• Strong analytical, organisational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Awareness of health and safety responsibilities in research environments.
• Experience in digital‑twin, system‑level, or multi‑energy modelling.
• Knowledge of electrolysers, hydrogen storage, DC microgrids, or power electronics.
• Familiarity with thermal‑management or waste‑heat‑recovery modelling.
• Experience supporting grant applications or industry collaboration.

Along with your full CV (including a full publication list and grant acquisitions, if applicable); please also submit:

• A cover letter which explains why this particular role (and AUT) is of interest and how your experience aligns with some, or all, of the selection criteria we're seeking above.

• Start Date: By negotiation (15 January 2027 at the latest)
• Salary Ranges | Ngā Utu: $72,000 - $96,000 per annum (appointment level and salary commensurate with skills and experience)
• For academic enquiries: Contact Dr Ramon Zamora, [e-mail]. For recruitment enquiries: please send us an enquiry or call 09 921 9499

Job Reference | Tohutoro Mahi: 97035

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