R&D Engineer - Mechanical Testing for Innovative Propulsion Technologies

Are you seeking an impactful career as an R&D Engineer? Do you excel at bridging the gap between theory and practice? Join AVTH, where R&D activities rapidly transition into practical applications. What Will You Do?As an R&D Engineer specializing in mechanical testing for new propulsion technologies within the “Testing and Evaluation” department, you will en…

Are you a recent graduate or do you have a few years of experience? We are eager to receive your application!As an R&D Engineer at the Electromagnetic Technology and Antennas group, you will engage in challenging assignments and innovative research and development projects for our clients. You will convert client requirements into antenna systems for navigation, communication, and surveillance.Your Responsibilities:You will work in an exciting environment, often as part of a team, focusing on the design and analysis of antenna systems for aircraft and other vehicles. Your contributions will include modeling and simulating antennas and electromagnetic wave propagation. Designing antennas involves not just the electromagnetic design of the antenna but also the RF front-end design and digital signal processing. Conducting measurements on antennas in our test facilities or outdoor range, including data analysis, is also part of the role. Projects will encompass both defense and civilian topics.Your Qualifications:Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mathematics, Physics, or Electrical EngineeringA broad interest and a flexible mindsetStrong analytical thinking and a detail-oriented work approachExperience with programming languages such as Python and MATLABExperience in modeling and simulating antennas and propagation is a plusExperience in conducting antenna or propagation measurements is a plusAmbition to grow into a role with partial project management responsibilitiesExcellent communication skills in Dutch and English.What We Offer You:Working at NLR means being part of a national and international high-tech environment. Collaboration and engagement are highly valued here. By giving you freedom and responsibility, you are best positioned to achieve groundbreaking innovations. Do you want to develop both professionally and personally or perhaps even pursue a PhD? That’s also possible at NLR, a learning organization, with additional training budgets, mentoring, internal coaching, and strong ties with vocational schools, universities of applied sciences, and universities.In addition to this, we offer you:A competitive salaryUp to 45 vacation days so you can enjoy ample free time alongside your challenging jobAn end-of-year bonus of 8%Contributions towards your healthcare costsPaid parental leave

Are you eager to contribute as an R&D Engineer to groundbreaking innovations in the aerospace sector? Join a dynamic environment where cutting-edge design methodologies, high-end simulations, and state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies converge to push the boundaries of engineering.Your Role:As a vital member of the Computational Mechanics team, you will develop advanced material models for metals, composites, and hybrid structures. Your computational models will enable the creation of new design concepts and innovative methodologies aimed at sustainable, lightweight, and economically viable applications within the aerospace industry.The models you create will be utilized by both our team and our clients to design and optimize products, analyze processes, and enhance performance. You will ensure that these models are not only theoretically sound but also practically applicable.Validation is a crucial aspect of your responsibilities. You will engage in the production and testing of prototype constructions, from 3D-printed metals to composite and hybrid materials, working closely with engineering, manufacturing, and testing teams.You will work on projects within multidisciplinary teams, enjoying ample opportunities for in-depth learning and personal growth.

NLR - Netherlands Aerospace Centre is looking for an R&D Engineer to join its Additive Manufacturing team in Marknesse, Flevoland. The team specializes in advancing metal additive manufacturing, working with technologies such as Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), Directed Energy Deposition (DED), and Cold Spray (CS). What you will do Develop concepts and process specifications for projects involving metal additive manufacturing Design experiments and analyze results from additive manufacturing equipment Prepare detailed reports based on experimental data Communicate with current and prospective clients Initiate project proposals that address client needs and new market developments Work closely with colleagues on shared project work Professional development This role provides exposure to a range of projects and supports continued growth within the team.

We are looking for a talented Mechanical Test Systems Designer! Are you the creative individual who can translate innovative solutions into CAD drawings? Do you thrive in a collaborative team environment where you can bring those solutions to life? If you are comfortable at both the design table and in hands-on settings, and you seek a role that offers excellent training opportunities alongside significant responsibilities, we want to hear from you!Your Role:As part of a dynamic team, you will identify market opportunities and approach client challenges with innovative concepts or validation requests. You will leverage your creativity to develop mechanical designs that range from test setups for wing deflection to systems for agitating liquid hydrogen storage tanks.

Are you a recent graduate or do you have some years of experience? We eagerly await your application!As an R&D Engineer within the Electromagnetic Technology and Antennas group, you will engage in exciting assignments and innovative research and development projects for our clients. Your contributions will help develop models and simulations in the field of Electromagnetic Compatibility, supporting our clients' efforts in sustainable aviation.What Will You Do?You will work in a fascinating environment, often as part of a team, where modeling and analysis of the electromagnetic properties of electrical and electronic aircraft systems and their wiring play a key role. You will also contribute to modeling and simulation of the electrical drive systems of aircraft. Theoretical knowledge is always complemented by experiments in our EMC lab, where you can contribute both practically and through the analysis of measurement data.What Do You Bring?A completed academic degree in Mathematics, Physics, or Electrical EngineeringA broad interest and a flexible mindsetAnalytical thinking ability and a precise, results-oriented work ethicExperience with programming languages such as Python and/or MATLABExperience in modeling and simulating EMC issues and/or practical experience with EMC matters is a plus.A desire to grow into a role with (partial) project management responsibilitiesExcellent communication skills in Dutch and English.What Do We Offer You?Working at NLR means being part of a national and international high-tech environment. Collaboration and involvement are highly valued here. By granting you freedom and responsibility, you are best positioned to achieve groundbreaking innovations. Do you want to develop professionally and personally, or perhaps pursue a PhD? That is also possible at NLR, a learning organization, which offers a training budget, a mentor, internal coaches, and strong connections with vocational schools, universities of applied sciences, and universities.In addition, we offer you:A competitive salaryUp to 45 vacation days so you can enjoy ample free time alongside your challenging jobAn end-of-year bonus of 8%A contribution towards your healthcare costsAdditional paid parental leaveDepending on your position, flexible working hours and the option to work from home

Join the Koninklijk Nederlands Lucht- en Ruimtevaart Centrum (NLR) as an Aerospace EMC Test Engineer and contribute to the safety and reliability of aviation systems. In this role, you will explore and analyze the effects of lightning strikes on avionics systems and electronic equipment in aircraft, ensuring that millions of flights remain safe worldwide.As technology advances, the importance of reliable satellite systems becomes paramount. You will engage in experimental research within the Environmental Qualification and Testing (EQT) team, working on innovative projects that address extreme temperature variations faced by satellites.Your responsibilities will include:Acting as an entrepreneur to identify and develop innovative testing solutions in aerospace.Leading projects by designing appropriate test methodologies and collaborating with clients.Conducting hands-on testing, analyzing results, and providing detailed reports.

Are you a mechanical designer with CATIA skills and a passion for aviation and precision mechanics? Are you driven by innovation and cutting-edge aerospace technology? If so, we invite you to apply for this role where your inventive 3D design skills can truly shine.Your Role:As a mechanical designer, you will work on aircraft models for aerodynamic research in wind tunnels, as well as the associated test setups. You will also design advanced measurement equipment and airworthy structures. Utilizing CATIA, you will translate customer specifications into practical designs, dimensions, and details of components. Collaborating with experienced designers, you will conduct strength and stiffness analyses and engage with project leaders and operators to realize results. Your active participation in project reviews will be essential. For larger projects, you will often collaborate with other specialized departments within NLR, both at our Marknesse and Amsterdam locations.What You’ll Bring:A completed Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering;Experience with relevant 2D and 3D CAD systems, preferably with finite element analysis methods. Experience with CATIA is a plus;The ability to translate client demands into practical consequences and feasible solutions;Confidence to think and act innovatively;Knowledge of materials and production processes;Results-oriented approach;Enthusiasm and expertise in discussions with colleagues, clients, and suppliers;Proficiency in Dutch and English.What We Offer You:Working at NLR means being part of a national and international high-tech environment where collaboration and engagement are highly valued. By granting you freedom and responsibility, you can achieve groundbreaking innovations. If you aspire to develop professionally and personally, or even pursue a PhD, NLR supports you as a learning organization, complete with training budget, mentorship, internal coaching, and strong ties with vocational schools, universities of applied sciences, and universities. Additionally, we provide:A competitive salary;A generous 45 vacation days so you can fully enjoy your free time alongside your challenging work;An end-of-year bonus of 8%;Assistance with your healthcare costs;Paid parental leave;Depending on your role, flexible working hours and the option to work from home;A dynamic and innovative work environment.

Are you a passionate engineer (Master's level) eager to contribute to the development of sustainable lightweight structures and composite manufacturing technologies in the aerospace sector? If so, we invite you to explore this opportunity!Your Role:As a Senior Scientist, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to developing innovative construction and manufacturing concepts for lightweight and sustainable composite structures. You will engage in advanced manufacturing processes such as fiber placement, autoclave and press processes, resin infusion techniques, thermoplastic welding, and robot/cobot-assisted composite manufacturing. Our work encompasses both thermosetting and thermoplastic materials, including specialized composites for extremely high-temperature applications. In your role, you will define experiments, analyze test results, and ensure accurate documentation in reports. Although much of our work is applied research, you will also delve into fundamental studies and regularly publish papers. Depending on your experience and network, you may maintain contact with (potential) clients and initiate project proposals or collaborate on research assignments with academic institutions both domestically and internationally. You will stay informed about emerging developments and market needs. What You Bring:A completed Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering;A team-oriented spirit, results-driven mindset, initiative, flexibility, and a sense of humor;An expert and open attitude towards stakeholders and colleagues;5 to 10 years of experience with composite materials and relevant manufacturing processes;Knowledge and experience in the aviation industry is a plus;Excellent communication skills in Dutch and English. What We Offer:Working at NLR means being part of a national and international high-tech environment. Collaboration and engagement are core values for us. By giving you freedom and responsibility, you will be in the best position to achieve groundbreaking innovations. Do you want to develop both professionally and personally? At NLR, a learning organization, you will have access to a training budget, a mentor, internal coaches, and strong ties with vocational schools, universities of applied sciences, and universities.

Drones are pivotal in delivering innovative solutions to address rapidly evolving societal, economic, and security challenges. Are you eager to make a meaningful impact in unmanned and autonomous aviation within a fast-developing technology landscape? Do you thrive in a work environment where commitment, passion, and teamwork are essential to success? If so, we encourage you to apply!What Will You Do?Drones and helicopters serve as versatile flying platforms, with a growing number of unmanned applications in both civilian and military sectors. You will be responsible for conducting and defining scientific research on drone technology, with an emphasis on platform design, autonomy, and sensor and system data fusion. As a researcher, you are expected to write scientific publications and present at conferences to develop and validate new methods and techniques in drone technology. Additionally, you will be tasked with drafting and securing research proposals. You should adeptly manage complex research data and outcomes while developing and nurturing new research lines and themes. You will also lead multidisciplinary projects, ensuring quality, progress, and financial oversight.Collaboration is key, as you will work closely with colleagues at the NLR Drone Centre in Marknesse and in Amsterdam. We value a positive team atmosphere and provide opportunities for personal and team development. Clear and connective communication with colleagues and other stakeholders is essential, as is your ability to define and achieve project objectives.

Are you an enthusiastic Engineer (BSc.) eager to contribute to the development of sustainable lightweight structures and the associated manufacturing technologies for composites? Are you looking to take the next step in your career or are you a recent graduate? Do you want to work in a high-tech environment equipped with state-of-the-art technology? If so, keep reading!What will you do?You will collaborate with a motivated team of colleagues to develop innovative construction and manufacturing concepts for lightweight and sustainable composite structures. Your responsibilities will include creating work instructions for manufacturing experiments such as press processes, welding of thermoplastics, or automated fiber placement of bio-based composite materials. Additionally, you will design tooling and molds, program robotic systems, and manage the processing, interpretation, and reporting of research results. At the start of your career, you will be paired with a mentor who will provide guidance and support.What do you bring?Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering;Affinity/experience with composite materials and associated manufacturing processes;Experience with 3D CAD design software such as Catia or SolidWorks;2-5 years of experience with composite materials and manufacturing processes is a plus;Team spirit, results-oriented mindset, initiative, flexibility, and a sense of humor;Excellent communication skills in Dutch and English.What do we offer you?Working at NLR means being part of a national and international high-tech environment. Collaboration and engagement are highly valued here. By granting you freedom and responsibility, you will be best positioned to achieve groundbreaking innovations. Would you like to develop both professionally and personally? NLR, as a learning organization, offers this opportunity with a training budget, a mentor, internal coaches, and strong ties with vocational schools, universities of applied sciences, and universities.In addition to all of this, we offer you:The chance to contribute to complex and socially relevant challenges;Generous vacation and ATV days (a total of 45 for full-time employment) for a healthy work-life balance;An end-of-year bonus of 8%;A contribution towards your healthcare costs;Additional paid parental leave;

Are you eager to contribute to the aircraft and spacecraft of the future, or the automotive industry? Do you want to work as a software engineer in a multidisciplinary environment focused on developing software for our measurement and control systems? If so, we invite you to read on!Responsibilities:As a software engineer, you will be instrumental in designing, developing, and implementing software applications for processing dynamic measurement data. These applications are utilized internally by your colleagues during the preparation, execution, and post-processing of wind tunnel tests. The outcomes of these applications significantly impact the final results for our clients. You will be adept at listening to user requirements and translating them into effective software system designs and architectures that culminate in operational software applications.The wind tunnel tests we conduct are of a high technical standard, characterized by reliability and excellent performance. Your creativity, combined with a structured approach, will shine through in collaboration with your colleagues as you continuously strive to enhance various software applications. You will be open to evolving with technology and learning new programming languages. In short, this is a challenging role that offers plenty of space for personal input and substantial responsibility in your own development and in advancing wind tunnel software.

BackgroundThe field of aeroacoustics plays a crucial role in understanding the noise generated by aerodynamic interactions in lift-plus-cruise small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). In these configurations, the interactions between rotors, wings, fuselages, and other lifting surfaces create significant tonal components associated with blade-passing frequencies and their harmonics, particularly in the mid-frequency range. Additionally, broadband noise contributes significantly during transitional flight phases, where multiple propulsive and lifting elements are utilized simultaneously.The accurate prediction of tonal and broadband noise components remains a complex challenge due to factors such as unsteady inflow conditions, wake–airframe interactions, and non-uniform aerodynamic loading effects, especially at the scale of sUAS. Advanced rotorcraft analysis tools, like FLIGHTLAB (FLAT), offer robust physics-based frameworks capable of capturing these unsteady aerodynamic interactions. Meanwhile, research-oriented aeroacoustic tools developed at TU Delft, such as the LOPNOR model, provide specialized capabilities for predicting tonal noise generation and propagation.Despite having these advanced tools, a systematic benchmarking of their relative performance, required modeling fidelity, and consistency against high-quality wind-tunnel aeroacoustic measurements for lift-plus-cruise sUAS configurations has not yet been undertaken. Thus, a coordinated validation effort is essential to evaluate predictive capabilities, identify model limitations, and enhance confidence in noise predictions.AssignmentThe objective of this internship is to investigate, predict, and validate the aeroacoustic noise generated by aerodynamic interaction effects in lift-plus-cruise sUAS configurations by benchmarking FLAT and LOPNOR model predictions against wind-tunnel aeroacoustic measurements.ObjectivesIdentify and characterize dominant tonal and broadband noise mechanisms resulting from rotor–airframe and rotor–rotor aerodynamic interactions in lift-plus-cruise sUAS configurations.Analyze tonal noise signatures in the mid-frequency range, focusing on blade-passing frequencies and harmonic content.Utilize comprehensive rotorcraft analysis methods (FLAT) to model unsteady aerodynamic loading and interaction effects.Employ and evaluate the LOPNOR noise prediction tool developed at TU Delft for similar configurations and operating conditions.Benchmark and compare FLAT- and LOPNOR-based tonal and broadband noise predictions against available wind-tunnel aeroacoustic measurements.

This internship at NLR (Nationaal Lucht- en Ruimtevaartlaboratorium) centers on additive manufacturing for aerospace, with a focus on Directed Energy Deposition (DED). DED technology uses a laser to melt metal powder layer by layer, enabling the production of complex and lightweight parts. However, controlling the melt pool during this process remains a technical challenge. Improving understanding and control of these dynamics is essential for achieving higher print quality in aerospace components. Project focus The primary goal is to create a Python script that interfaces with finite element simulations to optimize DED printing parameters. This optimization aims to prevent overheating and enhance the quality of printed metal parts. The project spans both part-scale and melt pool-scale simulations. Conduct a literature review to identify parameters influencing temperature distribution and thermal gradients Investigate methods to control thermal behavior by adjusting process settings Validate findings using thermal simulation models Potentially use tools such as Abaqus, Simufact, or an in-house MATLAB-based platform Compare results with published studies, thermal measurement data, or thermal imaging from the build process Internship details This position is based on-site at NLR Marknesse, Voorsterweg 31, 8316 PR Marknesse, Netherlands. The internship duration ranges from 3 to 9 months.