Doctoral student (f/m/d) Distributed computing and control architectures for modular space & robotic systems (m/w/d)

Building and upgrading satellites in orbit – as easy as installing apps on a smartphone: that is the vision behind the smartCASE project. In this context, the ‘apps' are intelligent, dockable modules comprising hardware and software, that add new capabilities to satellites during ongoing operation. The pilot mission is set to start as early as 2030. Together with international partners from research & industry partners, we are building the distributed software and control architecture that makes such modular space systems possible in the first place.

The same principles – distributed, reconfigurable, and fault-tolerant architectures – are also needed beyond spaceflight: in robotics, for Digital Twins, and in complex automation systems. smartCASE is therefore the flagship of your work, while leaving room for further topics at the intersection of space, robotics, distributed systems, and modern software engineering.

We are looking for a research associate (f/m/d) with the intention to pursue a PhD and a strong passion for the development and validation of distributed software architectures, for Linux-based systems and hardware-oriented robotics and control software, as well as for modern methods of simulation-based system development. You will develop real software architectures – not merely concepts, but software that enables individual modules to describe their capabilities digitally, interact with one another, and be validated in virtual, hybrid, and physical test environments.

We offer:

• The opportunity to pursue a PhD in a highly topical research field
• A full-time position (remuneration according to TV-L E13)
• Work on real-world applications for industry and space, with a direct link to highly topical, EU-funded space developments for modular space systems (the smartCASE project, awarded the EU's STEP Seal of Excellence)
• The development of real software architectures for modular space and robotic systems – not merely conceptual work
• Access to state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure for robotics, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, and Digital Twins
• Collaboration with European industry and research partners
• A creative, interdisciplinary research environment at RWTH Aachen University, one of Europe's leading technical universities and a University of Excellence
• Plenty of scope to develop your own ideas and research directions
• Up to 40% remote work within the framework of an existing works agreement

About us:

The Institute for Man-Machine Interaction (MMI) is a nationally and internationally active and successful research institution within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology of RWTH Aachen University. MMI specialises in the modelling, simulation, control, and analysis of complex systems in their operational environment, in the interaction and networking of machines, devices, and people, and in intelligent systems for space applications and on Earth. Digital Twins realised at MMI revolutionise development processes and the operation of (not only) robotic systems. They form the basis for the convergence of the virtual and the real world – across industries and disciplines. The diverse application areas range from planetary rovers and modular satellite systems to the “International Space Station”, from industrial robots to “Virtual Production”, and from wheel loaders to the “Virtual Forest”.

If you have any questions about the position or the project, we look forward to hearing from you – informal preliminary enquiries are expressly welcome.

• Research and development in the field of distributed computing, communication, and control architectures and their hardware-oriented implementation based on Linux, ROS 2, and etcd – for modular space systems in the smartCASE project and for terrestrial application areas
• Design and implementation of mechanisms for inter- and intra-module communication, service discovery, distributed configuration, and state management
• Use and evaluation of modern software technologies such as Linux, ROS/ROS 2, etcd, containerisation, GitLab CI/CD, and automated software testing under the constraints of space applications and their development
• Setting up virtual machines, software test environments, and integration pipelines for distributed development within the European project consortium
• Carrying out software tests, regression tests, integration trials, and software-/hardware-in-the-loop validations
• Hardware-oriented programming for resource-constrained systems
• Development and implementation of fault-tolerance concepts for decentralised control architectures
• Collaboration in research and industry projects with a strong practical focus
• Supervision of student theses and sharing knowledge through teaching activities
• Publication of scientific results and attendance at international conferences, with the goal of completing a PhD in your area of research and interest

What you bring:

• An excellent Master's degree (or comparable) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Automation Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering with a strong software focus, or in a related field
• Very good programming skills in C/C++, Python, or comparable languages
• Very good knowledge of working with Linux systems
• Enthusiasm for hardware-oriented software systems, distributed software architectures, robust communication mechanisms, and technical systems with a genuine hardware reference
• An independent, creative, and research-oriented working style
• Very good German and good English language skills

Desirable:

• Experience with embedded systems, ROS/ROS 2, middleware concepts, distributed data structures, etcd, and service-oriented architectures
• Experience with containerisation, version control, and CI/CD (e.g., Git, GitLab, Docker)
• Interest in Digital Twins; embedded, modular, and safety-critical systems; and space applications

The successful candidate will be employed under a regular employment contract.
The position is to be filled at the earliest possible date and offered for a fixed term for two years initially.
A one-year extension is planned. A further extension is desired.
The fixed-term employment is possible as it constitutes one of the fixed-term options of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (German Act on Fixed-term Scientific Contracts).
This is a full-time position.
The successful candidate has the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in this position.
The salary is based on the German public service salary scale (TV-L).
The position corresponds to a pay grade of EG 13 TV-L.

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