W3 Professorship for Automotive Engineering

Technische Universität Braunschweig

Technische Universität Braunschweig is one of Germany’s leading institutes of technology and offers an inspiring work environment with a wide range of research and teaching opportunities in state-of-the-art facilities. The 3,800 members of our academic, technical and administrative staff – including more than 400 international scientific staff – work together to ensure that our university successfully fulfills its mission of providing excellent teaching for our approximately 17,000 students and 100 trainees. We focus our research on mobility, metrology, engineering for health, and the future city. Our core disciplines include a comprehensive engineering division and a strong natural sciences division, closely linked with business sciences, social sciences, educational sciences, and the humanities. Our university is located at the heart of one of Europe’s most research-intensive regions. We cooperate closely with the more than 20 internationally renowned research institutions in our vicinity and our network extends to our partner universities in Germany and all over the world, with whom we maintain strong relationships.

We offer a

W3 Professorship for Automotive Engineering

within the Institute for Automotive Engineering. We want to give the professorship a forward-looking focus for the development, application, and integration into mobility systems of all kinds and perspectives, and are therefore advertising it without a specific topic in the field. The position is scheduled to be filled by October 1, 2026, or earlier.

Your responsibilities

The Institute of Automotive Engineering enjoys an excellent reputation and combines basic research with industrial applications in the field of automotive engineering and mobile machinery in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and at the Niedersächsisches Forschungszentrum Fahrzeugtechnik (NFF). The professorship is assigned to the TU Braunschweig's core research area Mobility and serves as an interface with the core research areas Future City and Metrology. In addition, the institute plays a leading role in conducting interdisciplinary research projects in collaboration with the large-scale research institutions Niedersächsisches Forschungszentrum Fahrzeugtechnik (NFF), the National Metrology Institute (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt – PTB), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and industry in the region. The professorship is explicitly not limited to the institute's existing areas of focus and is intended to complement the topics of “Vehicle Dynamics and Active Systems” covered by the institute's second professorship with a view to the vehicle as a whole and its systemic consideration. The final denomination will be adapted depending on the specialization of the future job holder. We expect the future holder of this position to take on a shared leadership role within the institute. At the same time, the professorship is intended to strengthen key competencies within the NFF in the research areas of “Overall Vehicle Concepts”; “Digitalization and Vehicle Systems” and “Zero-Emission Vehicles and Alternative Drive Systems.” For research transfer, cooperation with the DLR and the PTB is expected, as are industrial projects with regional, national, and international industry partners, as well as work in basic research. To this end, an active focus on experimental research using the existing research infrastructure of the institute and the NFF's large-scale equipment is welcome. Test vehicles, a very well-equipped workshop, and an extensive software pool are also available. For further thematic development, the future job holder will also be given the opportunity to take on research field coordination within the NFF. Despite the possible thematic reorientation, we expect the future job holder to take over the basic courses for all bachelor's degree programs in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Advanced courses for students in mechanical engineering programs and interdisciplinary teaching in related programs should also be covered. It is expected that the successful candidate must be willing to teach courses in both German and English. The successful candidate (f/m/d) is expected to be committed to the university’s strategic goals and to actively shape its holistic development (https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/hochschulentwicklung). In addition to the classic service areas of a university (research, teaching and studies, transfer, governance and administration), this applies in particular to digitalisation, internationalisation, equality and diversity, as well as knowledge exchange.

Our expectations

• Leadership personality with proven management experience of larger units from relevant activities at universities, research institutions, and industry, who comprehensively represents the field of automotive engineering in research and teaching
• Proven ability to initiate, implement, coordinate, and manage interdisciplinary research projects and networks
• Proven experience with and willingness to acquire third-party funding and industrial transfer projects, as well as national and international networking
• Extensive experience, outstanding scientific or engineering achievements in applied and industrial research
• Willingness to teach in German and English in bachelor's and master's degree programs
• Willingness to participate in and contribute to the Niedersächsisches Forschungszentrum Fahrzeugtechnik (NFF) and the core research are Mobility
• Willingness to collaborate with large research institutions and industry in the areas covered by the professorship
• Willingness to collaborate closely in research and teaching at the institute, with working groups from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and other faculties at TU Braunschweig
• Willingness to participate in the self-administration and internationalization of the university

We encourage candidates (f/m/d) to apply if they fulfill the essential criteria.
International research and teaching experience, excellent command of the English language, as well as the ability and willingness to teach courses in English are a prerequisite.
We encourage candidates (f/m/d) to apply if they fulfil the essential criteria. Individual career decisions and career breaks due to parental/family care leave affecting research output will be taken into account by the appointment committee.

Requirements, § 25 NHG

• A degree in a relevant field
• Pedagogical aptitude
• Special qualification for in-depth independent scientific work, as a rule proven by an above-average doctorate
• Additional academic achievements, usually within the framework of a junior professorship, a post-doctoral degree (Habilitation) or through achievements equivalent to a Habilitation

Notes

Technische Universität Braunschweig makes personnel decisions on the basis of suitability, ability and professional performance. Our aim is to increase the share of women in academic positions. Therefore, we particularly welcome applications from women and will give preference to female candidates with equivalent qualifications. People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply and, if equally qualified, will be given preference in the appointment process. Technische Universität Braunschweig is certified as a family-friendly university. We are committed to facilitating a healthy and productive work-life balance and offer a dual career service as well as support for newly appointed staff. Our Family Office provides advice on all issues relating to family, childcare, and caring for relatives. Our “Prof.-Programm” offers exclusive status-related exchange and consulting formats, in particular to newly appointed professors. Professional and Personnel Development promotes the professional development of all employees through a wide range of courses and activities. The university actively endorses equal opportunities and diversity and promotes diverse perspectives as essential in contributing to the university’s success in research, teaching, transfer and administration. We particularly invite applications from international candidates (f/m/d). German language skills are not a prerequisite. However, the successful candidate is expected to acquire sufficient language skills to perform teaching and administrative duties in German within three years of appointment. Even though this is a permanent full-time position, a part-time appointment may be possible upon request. Applicants (f/m/d) who are 50 years or older at the time the appointment commences and who have not acquired permanent civil servant status (Beamtenverhältnis auf Lebenszeit) will be employed with employee status (Angestelltenverhältnis).