Research Associate (f/m/d) Research focus: AI-based design of engine architecture, HAP5

Modern // regional // industry-oriented: The Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences (Technische Hochschule Brandenburg, THB) is a young and dynamic university with approximately 3,200 students enrolled in 26 study programmes across the Departments of Computer Science & Media, Engineering, and Business Administration, located in the city of Brandenburg an der Havel — directly at the doorstep of Potsdam and Berlin. As a family-friendly university on a green campus, we offer attractive working conditions.

Within the Department of Engineering, as part of the research project DaHKIZ (Data-based Holistic AI-supported Civil Engine Development), the following position with the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree is to be filled at the earliest possible date, initially limited until 30 April 2029: in cooperation with Rolls-Royce Dtl.

Research Associate (f/m/d) Research focus: AI-based design of engine architecture, HAP5
The focus of your work lies in the industrial research: AI-based design of engine architecture. You investi-gate efficient and physics-informed ML/AI strategies for the preliminary design of engine concepts, in particular the semantic integration of the "Preliminary Engine Architecture" tool and the GTlab framework for Large Language Models (LLMs), as well as multi-agent architectures for the automated synthesis and evaluation of design workflows. As customer inquiries for new propulsion concepts require the rapid, inte-grated evaluation of very large and complex data sets from preliminary design tools, AI methods shall make new technically feasible and requirement-compliant engine concepts quickly accessible.

Your main responsibility

• AI-supported component selection: investigation and preparation of existing data sets for automated preliminary design, generation of missing data, and provision of a database suitable for ML/AI evaluation.
• AI-supported evaluation and automated analysis of engine concepts: investigation of ontology-based metadata models for the machine-readable description of model structures, workflows and parameter dependencies, as well as a multi-agent architecture (LLMs, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, function calling to GTlab).
• Robust processes in engine design: investigation of data-driven and AI-supported methods for identifying robust starting solutions with high convergence probability, enabling a more efficient preliminary design.
• Application & validation: transfer of the investigated strategies to exemplary use cases in overall engine design and integration of the AI-supported methodology into GTlab.
• Publication: you prepare scientific publications and present the results at international conferences.

Your profile

• Successfully completed academic university degree (Master's or University Diploma) in a relevant discipline (Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics or similar).
• Sound knowledge of the fundamentals of Machine Learning, as well as of engine or system design, or of semantic data modelling.
• Confident use of Python or equivalent
• Very good English language skills, both written and spoken (level C1), for the preparation of international publications.

THB is a reliable employer that supports its staff with a wide range of benefits and services:

• company pension scheme, annual special payment and capital-forming benefits
• good public transport connections, monthly subsidy for the public transport job ticket
• university canteen directly on campus
• attractive further education and training opportunities
• corporate health management
• flexible working hours, 30 days of annual leave (based on a 5-day week), day off on 24 December and 31 December
• use of the university library
• Family and Social Services (compatibility of work and family life)
• long-term, secure personal and professional prospects at a modern workplace

The university expressly encourages qualified women to apply. In the event of equal aptitude, qualifications and professional performance, applications from persons with recognised severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration. Please indicate any severe disability already in your application. The HR Department (+49 3381 355-113, leitung-pvo@th-brandenburg.de) and the Equal Opportunities Officer (+49 3381 355-443, gba@th-brandenburg.de) are available for consultations regarding individual questions. For further information, please also see https://www.th-brandenburg.de.

For further information on the advertised position, Prof. Flassig is available by email at flassig@th-brandenburg.de. For questions regarding the application process or for any other support, please feel free to contact Ms Peters by email at doreen.peters@th-brandenburg.de.

Please apply by 22.10.2026 via our online application portal, quoting the reference number listed above.

We look forward to receiving your application!