The University of Agder has more than 1500 employees and almost 14 000 students, making us one of Southern Norway's largest workplaces. Our dedicated staff engage in research, teaching and dissemination across a diverse range of fields.
The university is located on two modern campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad.
About the position
Up to two 100 % position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering and Science as a PhD Research Fellow in Intelligent Mechatronics, affiliated to the Department of Engineering Sciences, for a period of three years. The position is located at Campus Grimstad. The starting date is negotiable with the Faculty.
The position is funded through the SFI CELECT (Centre for Effective Engineering and Learning in Complex Systems), a national Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI) funded by the Research Council of Norway and industrial partners. CELECT is led by the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) in close collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and UiA, and a broad consortium of leading companies across defence, maritime, and manufacturing sectors. The centre runs from 2026 to 2034 and aims to accelerate innovation and value creation by developing research-based methodologies, methods, and tools for effective and efficient product innovation and realization in complex systems. Education and competence building are central pillars of CELECT, which will educate more than 30 PhD and postdoctoral researchers across the partner universities.
Responsibilities
The PhD candidate will contribute to the CELECT work package on AI-Assisted Engineering. The research will focus on developing AI-assisted methods for parallel hardware-software co-design of mechatronic systems, enabling virtual prototyping and simulation-driven development from early design stages. The candidate will develop methods that bridge mechanical, electrical, and control domains, improving design quality, traceability, and decision-making. The resulting virtual prototypes will establish the digital foundation that can evolve into digital twins upon physical deployment.
The research will be conducted in close collaboration with industry partners and fellow PhD candidates across the three partner universities. In particular, the candidate will work closely with a PhD candidate at NTNU focusing on AI-assisted concept and architecture exploration in product and system design. The candidate will work within an industry-as-laboratory approach and is expected to contribute to the CELECT research community, including reporting progress and delivering outputs to the centre.
Master’s degree in Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Cybernetics, Systems Engineering, or a related multidisciplinary engineering field
A minimum grade of B on the master’s thesis and an average grade of B or better over the last two years of the master’s programme. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally strong academic basis
Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are obtained at master’s level
Strong academic or industrial background relevant to the research topic
Excellent written and oral English skills
Ability to work both independently and in multidisciplinary teams
Must meet the requirements to obtain security clearance at the level NATO RESTRICTED for access to the facilities of the partner companies
Candidates who are in the closing stages of their master’s degree are also encouraged to apply.
The working language at the University of Agder is Norwegian. Proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language, both written and oral, is strongly desired.
Industrial work experience is strongly desired, particularly design engineering experience within defence, maritime, or manufacturing
Experience with CAE/CAD tools, MBSE frameworks, or digital engineering tools
Experience with modelling and simulation of dynamical systems or virtual prototyping
Competence in programming (e.g., Julia, Python, MATLAB)
Knowledge of AI/ML methods and their application in engineering
Personal qualities
Motivated to contribute to a long-term, multi-partner research centre
Systematic and structured, with the ability to carry out goal-oriented work
Passionate about bridging engineering disciplines and connecting theory with industrial practice
Interest in applied research addressing real industrial challenges
Good skills for communicating research results
Eager to collaborate across disciplines, institutions, and with industry partners
Personal qualities and suitability for the position will be emphasised.
We offer
professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation
a positive, inclusive and diverse working environment
modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers
collaboration with PhD fellows and researchers at USN, NTNU, and UiA, and industry-as-laboratory research opportunities with leading Norwegian companies
The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.515, code 1017 PhD Research Fellow, NOK 550 800 gross salary per year. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions.
General information
UiA is an open and inclusive university. We believe that diversity enriches the workplace and makes us better. We, therefore, encourage qualified candidates to apply for the position independent of gender, age, cultural background, disability or an incomplete CV.
Women are strongly encouraged to apply for the position.
The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning the acts relating to Control of Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions. A background check may be conducted to verify information that appears in available documents. Background checks are always done with the applicant's consent, and employment in the position requires an approved background check. Relevant applicants will receive further information.
Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview. With the applicant’s permission, UiA will also conduct a reference check before appointment. Read more about the employment process.
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right.
Application
The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for this job".
The following documentation must be uploaded electronically:
Certificates with grades
Master’s thesis
References
Academic work and R&D projects, as well as a list of these
Motivation letter with a maximum scope of 2 pages, describing the candidate’s motivation for the position, relevant academic and industrial experience, and how the candidate can contribute to the CELECT research centre’s industry-as-laboratory approach
Any other relevant documentation
The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation before the closing date. All documentation must be available in a Scandinavian language or English.
Application deadline: 31.03.26
Contact
For questions about the position:
Associate Professor Daniel Hagen, tel. +47 372 33 384, mobile +47 920 13 462, e-mail daniel.hagen@uia.no
Head of Department Paul Ragnar Svennevig, tel. +47 372 33 254, mobile +47 916 21 235, e-mail paul.r.svennevig@uia.no
