Challenge: Harnessing the potential of emerging digital technologies in design and construction.
Change: Developing next-generation digital methods and workflows from design to robotic fabrication.
Impact: Delivering smarter, faster, and cleaner construction practices that shape the future of our built environment.
Job description
Developments in digital design, digital fabrication and construction automation offer significant opportunities for the construction sector. These advancements enable the improvement of material efficiency, optimization of structural performance, reduction of construction time and costs, and the realization of geometrically complex structures. As such, these digital technologies can play an important role in addressing the quest for more resource-efficient and sustainable structures.
The faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, and the Department of Materials, Mechanics, Management and Design, are therefore seeking an Assistant Professor (0.8 - 1.0 fte) to strengthen their research portfolio and education in Digital Design and Construction within the domain of structural design of buildings and civil infrastructure.
Research and impact
As Assistant Professor, you will develop and lead an internationally recognised research line in Digital Design and Construction. Your work will focus on developing integrated digital design methods and computational workflows - such as parametric design, structural optimisation, and data-driven tools - and linking these to digital fabrication and construction automation technologies.
You will address fundamental scientific and technological challenges in digital design, fabrication, and robotic construction workflows, while translating research insights into practical solutions for the construction sector. You will actively pursue external research funding, and you will contribute through your work to more efficient, sustainable, and high-performance construction practices.
Education and academic leadership
You will contribute to and further develop high-quality education in structural and building engineering at both BSc and MSc levels. You will teach courses in areas such as structural design, building engineering, parametric design, and digital fabrication, and take responsibility for course coordination and innovation.
Working in multidisciplinary teaching teams, you will help integrate emerging digital technologies into engineering education and inspire students to engage with the future of construction. You will also contribute to supervision of MSc theses and the broader educational mission of the faculty.
Environment and collaboration
The position is embedded in the Structural Design & Building Engineering group within the Applied Mechanics section. The group delivers practice-driven education and conducts research on innovative technologies for safe, smart, and sustainable structures.
You will collaborate across the department, faculty, and university, connecting with expertise in areas such as Materials Engineering, Additive Manufacturing, Robotics, Circular Construction, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Extended Reality (XR). You will foster collaborations with academic and industry partners and contribute to interdisciplinary initiatives.
You will have access to emerging facilities, including the Digital Construction Laboratory, which can be further developed in line with your research ambitions. You will join a collaborative and international academic environment with strong links to industry and opportunities to build your research and leadership profile.
Job requirements
We are looking for a colleague who is motivated to build an academic career and contribute to advancing digital design and construction in both research and education.
- You hold a PhD in a relevant field (e.g. structural engineering, digital construction, building technology, or a closely related field) and an MSc or MEng in structural engineering or building engineering.
- You have demonstrable experience of conducting postdoctoral research or working in the construction sector on projects, preferably related to digital design and construction.
- You enjoy interacting with, teaching and coaching students, while enhancing your own competencies, including teaching and leadership skills. Experience in teaching is considered an advantage.
- You thrive on conducting research geared to driving digital design, fabrication and automation in the construction sector, and have a clearly defined vision.
- Harnessing your communication and networking skills, you seek collaboration, know how to convince and inspire stakeholders of your proposals and vision, and drive meaningful team results.
- You have a good command of written and spoken English, as you will be working in an international environment. If you are not yet proficient in Dutch, you are willing to learn the language as our undergraduate students are taught in Dutch and you will collaborate with Dutch partners.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.
At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.
Challenge. Change. Impact!
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.
Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.
Conditions of employment
This position is offered as an Academic Career Track position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE). During the Academic Career Track, we expect you to grow towards an Associate Professor position within a maximum of eight years, for which a position will be available. With other Academic Career Track colleagues, you will participate in the Academic Career Track Development programme, where you are offered ample opportunities to develop yourself in the areas of Education, Research, Societal Impact & Innovation, and Leadership & Organisation. You will regularly discuss your development and results with senior staff based on a personalized development plan and performance criteria agreed upon at the start of your Academic Career Track. You will start with a temporary contract that will be converted to a permanent contract no later than 12 -18 months after a positive evaluation, based on continuous confidence in your development potential and fit in the organisation.
Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. We expect you to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within three years if you have less than five years of teaching experience. This is provided by the TU Delft UTQ programme as part of the Academic Career Track Development programme.
TU Delft sets high standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. The TU Delft offers training to improve English competency. If you do not speak Dutch, we offer courses to learn the Dutch language within three years.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged and you can work partly from home.
Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, provides information and personal one-on-one guidance to help you prepare your relocation, and to find housing and schools for children (if applicable). In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.
Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof.dr.ir. Christian Louter at christian.louter@tudelft.nl.
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 7 June 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
- A short motivation letter.
- Personal research and teaching statement, explaining your vision for the coming years (maximum 3 pages in total).
- Detailed CV.
- List of publications.
- Abstracts of your MSc and PhD thesis.
- Two selected publications.
- At a later stage in the process you may be asked to provide two references.
You can address your application to Christian Louter.
Please note:
- You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
- As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
- Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.
