PhD Scholarship in AI-augmented Systems Engineering

If you are looking to advance both theory and practice of advanced systems engineering with the help of AI, then come and join our growing group.

Join us in building a new research lab that develops and safety-tests AI tools for engineering work, running on local compute infrastructure that we build and control ourselves. You will be part of the team shaping the lab's research agenda, its infrastructure and its industry network. You will work with us at the frontier of AI-augmented Systems Engineering, in close cooperation with our national and international industry, government and academic partners. Our goal: making the rigor of professional Systems Engineering affordable and available to all engineering teams.

We are looking for individuals that are not only excited about developing and applying advanced systems engineering methods, but also about developing new AI tools that make it easier for engineers and engineering organizations to adopt them. We know that engineering organizations today spend about one fifth of the time and effort on systems engineering that is necessary to enable the productive execution of highly complex engineering projects. The aim of this project is to bridge that gap with the help of AI. You will have access to state-of-the-art knowledge and resources to both frontier models as well as local AI compute in our group.

Responsibilities and qualifications
We expect you to bring some prior experience in systems engineering and/or developing practical AI-based solutions with you. We do not expect you to be perfect in either, but we do expect a passion for both.

The project will be conducted in close collaboration with our research and industry partners. Hands-on experience in industry cooperation or relevant work experience is a strong plus.

Your overall focus will be to design and validate an AI assistant that creates and reasons over a machine-readable SysML 2.0 system model, turning rigorous Systems Engineering (e.g. requirements, traceability, qualification analysis) into a fast and affordable process for small engineering teams. You will demonstrate and evaluate your methods on real engineering cases from our industry network. We will discuss your primary responsibilities during the hiring process. Your tasks may for example include:

• Develop AI methods (models and harnesses) that create reason over SysML 2.0 system models / MBSE
• Formalise engineering knowledge (requirements, architecture, verification) into machine-readable models
• Evaluate your methods on real engineering cases with our industry partners
• Work with the lab's local AI compute and validated model stack
• Publish in leading journals and conferences in engineering design and Systems Engineering
• Assist in teaching and supervise BSc and MSc student projects
• Contribute to building up the new Lab

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures.

The period of employment is 3 years. The position is a full-time position. Starting date is 1 November 2026 or by mutual agreement.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Josef Oehmen / jooehm@dtu.dk (please mention “PhD Position Inquiry” in your email subject)

You can read more about Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at www.construct.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 8 October 2026 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• An outline of a research plan, discussing practice motivation, state and gaps in the academic literature, research methods, and the three core academic contributions over the duration of the PhD (maximum 5 pages)
• Samples of your academic writing, approximately 10 pages, ideally submitted or published papers.
• Two letters of recommendation, preferably one from an academic and one from an industry reference contact.

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU Civil and Mechanical Engineering develops and utilises science and technical knowledge for the benefit of society and the sustainable development. We undertake research, education, innovation, and scientific advice of the highest quality within building design and processes, building construction and safety, building energy and technical services, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, coastal and maritime engineering, materials technology, manufacturing engineering, engineering systems design, design for sustainability, and thermal energy.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.