Associate Professor in Cybernetics, Control Engineering, Mechatronics

Reference Number: The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks MSCA DN

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The position

A full-time position as an Associate Professor is available at the Department of Electrical Engineering (IET) within the fields cybernetics/control engineering/mechatronics, with applications in satellite technology and autonomous systems.

The position will be affiliated with the department's research group in Electromechanical Systems, as well as its bachelor's and master's degree programmes in electrical engineering, electronics, satellite engineering, and possibly other relevant engineering disciplines.

We are seeking an academic who can contribute to the development of research and teaching in cybernetics, control engineering, and/or mechatronics, with applications to satellites and autonomous/unmanned systems. Relevant expertise in machine learning and artificial intelligence will be considered an advantage.

The Department of Electrical Engineering is one of five departments at the Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The department is located at UiT's campus in Narvik and includes academic, technical, and administrative staff, as well as PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers.

The department offers education at bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels and conducts teaching and research in areas including electrical engineering, electric power engineering, industrial electronics, automation, and satellite and space technology.

The department has a growing research activity, with projects funded by public-sector organisations and industry. Emphasis is placed on applied and experimental research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of technology relevant to the High North. Research activities are organised within the Electromechanical Systems research group, which works thematically in areas such as satellite applications, autonomous systems, power electronics, smart grids, renewable energy, and charging technologies.

The position is campus-based, and we believe that physical presence is important for teaching, student supervision, research collaboration and participation in the academic environment. It is therefore expected that your primary workplace is at UiT Narvik and that you are regularly present on campus.

The workplace is at UiT in Narvik. You must be able to start the position in Narvik within a reasonable time after receiving an offer.

Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology

The Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology is primarily located at UiT's campus in Narvik. The faculty aims to be a driving force for the development of industry, business, and the public sector, particularly in Northern Norway and the High North, and conducts research, education, innovation, and outreach in areas including computer engineering, electrical engineering, industrial technology, civil, energy and materials engineering, automation, and process technology. The Faculty has extensive cooperation with public- and private-sector stakeholders.

The faculty offers professionally oriented education at bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels and works actively to develop new teaching methods and pedagogical solutions. Its programmes are research-based and closely linked to national and international activities in research, innovation, outreach, and project development.

Its research activities emphasise innovation and new developments in engineering science and technology, with the aim of creating new knowledge, products, services, and jobs.

The position's field of research or work

The department offers education at bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels and conducts teaching and research in areas including electrical engineering, electric power engineering, industrial electronics, automation, and satellite and space technology.

The department has a growing research activity, with projects funded by public-sector organisations and industry. Emphasis is placed on applied and experimental research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of technology relevant to the High North. Research activities are organised within the Electromechanical Systems research group, which works thematically in areas such as satellite applications, autonomous systems, power electronics, smart grids, renewable energy, and charging technologies.

You will contribute to research, teaching, supervision, and academic development within the position's field and related areas. The work will be carried out in collaboration with academic staff at the department and external partners.

The duties will include, among other things:

• research and academic development within the position's field, including supervision of PhD candidates
• development and participation in research projects and applications for external funding
• development, coordination and teaching of courses within the position's field at bachelor's and master's level, including the development of laboratory exercises, project-based teaching, and digital learning resources, as well as supervising bachelor's and master's students
• collaboration with research communities, the public sector, and relevant industry
• contributing to the development and promotion of the study programmes, student recruitment, and communication of research to the wider public

Relevant research and teaching areas may include:

• modelling, simulation, guidance, navigation, and control of dynamic systems, particularly related to satellites and autonomous/unmanned systems
• formation flying and coordinated control of satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles
• systems/subsystems engineering, particularly for satellites and payloads
• classical and modern control engineering for linear and nonlinear systems
• classical and modern mechanics and mechatronics
• state estimation, sensor fusion, and signal processing
• fault detection and fault-tolerant control
• embedded systems, real-time systems, and hardware-near programming
• machine learning and artificial intelligence applied to satellites and autonomous/unmanned systems

Experience in all of these areas is not required.

The Department of Electrical Engineering aims to be socially relevant and therefore works closely with external stakeholders on research, innovation, and the development of teaching. You are expected to participate actively in research groups and academic networks nationally and internationally, and to contribute to applications for external funding for the department's research activities.

Teaching takes place in person in lecture halls, classrooms, and laboratories, as well as digitally using, among other tools, Canvas, Panopto, and Teams. The Department of Electrical Engineering has well-equipped laboratories in Narvik, providing excellent opportunities for experimental teaching and research, as well as collaboration with industry, other academic communities at UiT, and external research institutions.

Contact

Further information about the position and UiT is available by contacting

• Head of Department: Arild Steen, phone +47 7696 6201, email arild.steen@uit.no
• Research group leader: Raymond Kristiansen, phone +47 7696 6196, email raymond.kristiansen@uit.no
• Head of studies: Jose Juan Corona Sanchez, phone +47 7696 6253, email jose.j.sanchez@uit.no

Qualifications

For the position, we are seeking candidates with relevant expertise in cybernetics, control engineering, mechatronics, or a closely related field. Appointment to the position requires that you have:

• a PhD in cybernetics, control engineering, mechatronics, or an equivalent relevant field
• educational/pedagogical qualifications in accordance with current requirements
• proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language. The position requires proficiency in a Scandinavian language equivalent to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). New employees who do not fulfill the language criteria by appointment are required, within three years, to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language. Arrangements will be made to facilitate the completion of Norwegian courses.
• good command of written and spoken English
• personal suitability: We will emphasize the applicants motivation for the position and personal suitability. We are looking for candidates who have:
  • has strong collaboration and communication skills
  • can work independently and in a structured manner
  • is committed to teaching quality and student learning
  • wishes to contribute to the development of the academic environment, research activities, and study programmes
  • can establish collaboration across disciplinary fields
  • wishes to contribute to an inclusive and positive working environment
  • has an interest in applying cybernetics, control engineering, and/or mechatronics, particularly in autonomous systems and space technology, or in other areas of societal relevance

Desirable qualification:

• experience and qualifications in relevant applications of cybernetics, control engineering, and/or mechatronics, documented in the form of scientific publications, reports, presentations, or similar
• experience with project work in collaboration with industry, the public sector, or research institutions, as well as developing research grant applications and securing external funding
• experience in teaching and supervision at bachelor's, master's, or PhD level, as well as developing student-active, project-based, or digital teaching methods

In addition to the qualification requirements stated above, it is desirable that you have expertise or experience in one or more of the following areas:

• modelling, simulation, guidance, navigation, and/or control of dynamic systems
• satellite systems, small satellites, payloads, or other space-related applications
• autonomous systems, preferably unmanned aerial vehicles and multirotor systems
• machine learning and artificial intelligence applied to satellites and autonomous/unmanned systems
• programming and use of relevant development and simulation tools, such as Python, C/C++, MATLAB/Simulink or equivalent tools
• embedded systems, real-time systems, and hardware-near programming

When ranking applicants, we will place emphasis on achievements from the past 3–5 years.

At UiT we put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

Gender Representation and Diversity

UiT aims to achieve gender balance in teaching and research positions. In cases where candidates have equivalent qualifications, priority will be given to the underrepresented gender. Men/women are encouraged to apply for the position.

Pedagogical competence

All applicants for teaching and research positions must document their educational competence in their application.

Those who do not meet the requirements for pedagogical competence upon employment will be required to meet them within two years. UiT offers courses in educational competence to employees.

You must have acquired basic competence for teaching and supervision at university and college level. This entails basic skills in planning, implementing, evaluating and developing teaching and supervision.

See how to document educational competence: About the pedagogical portfolio - Result (English guide at the bottom of the page).

Work- and salary conditions

We can offer

• A professionally strong and interdisciplinary working environment
• Interesting research and teaching responsibilities
• The opportunity to contribute to the development of a strategically important field
• Access to laboratories and technical infrastructure in electrical engineering, automation, electronics, and satellite technology
• Collaboration with excellent colleagues and students from many countries
• Strong opportunities for collaboration with industry and external research environments
• Favourable terms for sabbatical leave for permanent associate professors
• Good employee welfare benefits
• Good pension, insurance, and loan schemes through the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

The successful candidate must be willing to get involved in the ongoing development of their department and the university as a whole.

The allocation of working hours is flexible and allocated on a case-by-case basis. In general, Associate Professors will spend an equal amount of time on teaching and research and development work after time spent on other duties has been deducted. As a norm, the time resources spent on administrative duties constitutes 5 % for academic staff.

The remuneration for Associate Professor is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1011, with a gross annual salary ranging from NOK 645000 to 815000,- in a 100 % position. In special cases, a higher salary may be considered.

As a state employee, you have one of the best pension schemes available. For more information see: spk.no.

Application

Qualifications and experience must be documented, elaborated on, and justified according to their relevance to the position.

The application must include:

• Cover letter including a short description of interests and reasons for applying for the position
• CV containing a complete overview of education, experience and professional work
• Diplomas, diploma supplements and transcripts (all degrees, in original language and translated)
• Letter(s) of recommendation if applicable
• Two references with contact details
• Documented pedagogical competence. Brief description of teaching philosophy/documentation of educational competence in the form of a pedagogical map or course certificate of completed university pedagogical basic competence such as UNIPED 100 at UiT or equivalent from other universities
• A list of your academic production
• Description of your academic production, stating which works you consider most important
• Academic works, up to ten. The doctoral thesis is regarded as one work.

Documentation has to be in English or a Scandinavian language. The application and submitted documents must be sent electronically via www.jobbnorge.no.

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications on the basis of the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description drawn up for the position.

The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview shall among other things, aim to clarify the applicants personal suitability for the position and motivations. A trial lecture may also be held.

General information

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment.

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

More information about moving to Norway and working at UiT: http://uit.no/mobility

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

In case of discrepancies between the Norwegian and the English version of this description, the Norwegian version takes precedence.

Eallju - Developing the High North

UiT Norges arktiske universitet er et internasjonalt ledende breddeuniversitet. Vår visjon er å være en drivkraft i nord. Det nordsamiske begrepet eallju, som betyr arbeidsiver, setter tonen for drivkraften i UiT. Sammen med studenter, ansatte og samfunnet for øvrig skal vi utnytte vår beliggenhet i Nord-Norge og Sápmi, vår faglige bredde og tverrfaglige fortrinn til å forme framtiden.

UiT har om lag 18 000 studenter, mer enn 4000 ansatte, og er etablert på fire hovedcampuser og sju øvrige studiesteder i Nord-Norge og på Svalbard. Våre største campuser er Tromsø, Alta, Narvik og Harstad. UiT har sju fakulteter, 40 institutter og sentre, og ledende forskningsmiljøer innenfor ulike fag. Universitetet har 269 studieprogrammer og har fokus på utdanningskvalitet.

Akademisk frihet, vitenskapelige og forskningsetiske prinsipper ligger til grunn for hele UiT sin virksomhet. Medvirkning, medbestemmelse, åpenhet og gode prosesser skal gi det beslutningsgrunnlaget vi trenger for å gjøre kloke og framsynte prioriteringer. Våre studenter og ansatte skal ha mulighet til å utvikle sine evner og potensial. Tuftet på vitenskapelig integritet skal vi være modige, engasjerte og rause - tett på fag, folk og samtidsutviklingen.

Les mer om UiTs strategi mot 2030.

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Department of Electrical Engineering (IET)
• Country: Norway
• State/Province: Nordland
• City: Narvik
• Postal Code: N-8514
• Street: Lodve Langes gate 2