Offer Description

About the Project BESCAPE
BESCAPE ("Advanced Wide Bandgap-based Power Processing and Management for Future Space Exploration") is a Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network Joint Doctorate (DN-JD) initiative developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and leading European space companies.
The project addresses emerging challenges in power conversion, advanced control, and power distribution systems for future human space exploration missions.
BESCAPE brings together a highly international consortium comprising 11 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) distributed across leading European universities and research institutions. The academic beneficiaries include Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM, Spain), Universiteit Twente (UT, The Netherlands), Universidad de Oviedo (UNIOVI, Spain), KU Leuven (KU Leuven, Belgium), Université de Mons (UMONS, Belgium), Ghent University (UGent, Belgium), Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD, Italy), and Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche (UMH, Spain). These academic partners collaborate closely with space-sector stakeholders, including the European Space Agency (ESA, The Netherlands), Leonardo S.p.A. (Leonardo, Italy), IMEC (Belgium), Thales Alenia Space Belgium (TAS-B, Belgium), OHB System AG (OHB, Germany), and CRISA-AIRBUS (Spain), creating a unique research and training environment that combines academic excellence with industrial and space-sector expertise.

The Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) offers 1 fully funded PhD position “Architecture Analysis and Models Development of DC Micro Grid for New Gateway Electrical Power Subsystems” within this international research network, providing the opportunity to work closely with leading academic experts, ESA researchers, and industrial partners while contributing to technologies for future space missions.

Host Institution:
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
Supervisors from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM, Spain).
Joint Degree Partner Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD, Italy).
Industrial Mentors: European Space Agency - ESA (The Netherlands) and CRISA-AIRBUS (Spain).
Objective: This project focuses on the modelling and analysis of advanced Power Distribution Systems for future space platforms. The selected candidate will develop accurate system models and a Digital Twin of a Space Station DC Micro Grid integrating solar generation, battery storage, and power conversion units, enabling performance assessment and stability analysis under different operating conditions.
Secondments:
ESA (during 3 months): training on the Power Distribution Systems and the challenges for the coming Space exploration missions.
UNIPD (during 6 Months): advanced training in control techniques and digital control to be applied in the Digital Twin models and to follow the PhD courses from UNIPD for the Joint Degree.

Where to apply

E-mail: gestion.etsii.ceimm@upm.es

Requirements

• Research Field: Engineering
• Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
• Research Field: Engineering
• Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Physics, or related disciplines.
Experience in power electronics, modelling and control of power converters and power systems, energy conversion, modelling, simulation and programming tools (e.g. MATLAB, Simulink, Python), or related research areas will be considered an advantage.
Strong analytical skills, a research-oriented mindset, and excellent communication skills in English are highly valued.

Specific Requirements

MSCA Eligibility Criteria

1. Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Spain for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately prior to recruitment.
2. Candidates must not already possess a doctoral degree.
3. Candidates must meet admission requirements for the PhD programs at UPM and UNIPD university.
4. Nationality: Open to candidates of any nationality from around the world.

• Languages: ENGLISH
• Research Field: Engineering » Electronic engineering
• Research Field: Engineering » Electrical engineering
• Years of Research Experience: 1 - 4

Additional Information

Benefits

Double / Joint PhD Degree
Successful candidates will obtain a joint doctoral degree awarded by UPM and UNIPD.
International Training Programme
Joining BESCAPE offers a unique opportunity to develop a PhD within an international network involving leading universities, ESA, and major European space companies.
Candidates will benefit from:

• International secondments at ESA and leading European institutions.
• Participation in specialized BESCAPE Summer Schools and training events.
• Collaboration with internationally recognized researchers and industry experts.
• Competitive MSCA funding package including Living, Mobility, and Family Allowances (where applicable).
• Full employment contract and social security coverage under Spanish legislation.

Salary & Financial Conditions

The position is funded by the Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Networks programme through the BESCAPE project (Grant Agreement No. 101312786). The position is funded by the European Union’s MSCA program and includes a competitive salary composed of a Living Allowance (adjusted by the country correction coefficient), a Mobility Allowance, and, if applicable, a Family Allowance.
Gross Salary before deductions: 39593.70€ per year.

Eligibility criteria

Recruitment will be conducted in accordance with the principles of the Open, Transparent and Merit-Based Recruitment (OTM-R) policy of the European Commission, ensuring equal opportunities, fairness, transparency, and selection based solely on candidates’ qualifications, skills, and merits. The selection process will ensure equal opportunities and non-discrimination and will be based exclusively on the candidates' qualifications, skills, experience and potential.
Experience will be valued in:

1. Knowledge and experience in power electronics (10%)
2. Design and optimization of power supplies. (20%)
3. Modelling and control of power converters and energy conversion systems (DC Microgrids,…). (20%)
4. Digital control (10%)
5. Skilled in modelling, simulation and programming (e.g. MATLAB, Python, ANSYS, Comsol etc.) (10%)
6. Skilled in Hardware in the Loop equipment (e.g. Opal-RT, Typhoon HIL, etc.) (10%)
7. Sufficient training and experience for the optimal performance of the described tasks. (10%)
8. Good communication skills; critical and creative mindset, able to formulate your own research questions; excellent proficiency in English (speaking, listening and writing) (10%)

Required Documents

Candidates must submit their application by email to gestion.etsii.ceimm@upm.es and s.carrazoni@upm.es before the deadline. It must be attached the following documentation:

1. Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV).
2. Academic transcripts (BSc and MSc).
3. Contact details of two academic referees.

Additional comments

This position is funded by the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks programme through the BESCAPE project (Grant Agreement No. 101312786).
Candidates must comply with all Horizon Europe and MSCA eligibility requirements.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: CENTRO DE ELECTRÓNICA INDUSTRIAL Y SISTEMAS MULTIMODALES (CEIMM)
Country: Spain
State/Province: Madrid
City: Madrid
Postal Code: 28006
Street: Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2

Contact

State/Province: Madrid
City: Madrid
Website: https://www.cei.upm.es/
Street: C/ Ramiro de Maeztu, 7
Postal Code: 28040
E-Mail: s.carrazoni@upm.es