Technische Universität Braunschweig is one of Germany’s leading institutes of technology and offers an inspiring work environment with a wide range of research and teaching opportunities in state-of-the-art facilities. The 3,800 members of our academic, technical and administrative staff – including more than 400 international scientific staff – work together to ensure that our university successfully fulfils its mission of providing excellent teaching for our approximately 15,000 students and 100 trainees.

We focus our research on mobility, metrology, engineering for health, and the future city. Our core disciplines include a comprehensive engineering division and a strong natural sciences division, closely linked with business sciences, social sciences, educational sciences, and the humanities.

Our university is located at the heart of one of Europe’s most research-intensive regions. We cooperate closely with the more than 20 internationally renowned research institutions in our vicinity and our network extends to our partner universities in Germany and all over the world, with whom we maintain strong relationships.

We offer a

W3 Professorship for AI methods in product development

The appointment is planned for 2027-01-01.

Your responsibilities

The use of AI is fundamentally transforming the development of technical products. In product development, and particularly in the automotive sector, new approaches are emerging for model-based, data-driven, hybrid and simulation-supported system development. AI aligns the development speeds of hardware and software, enabling the integrated development of mechanical, electrical and software-based subsystems within a unified system architecture.

You will lead research and teaching at the interface between technical product development and artificial intelligence at the Institute of Engineering Design (IK). The aim of research at the IK is to provide approaches, methods and tools for the development of modern products. Current research priorities are pursued within the working groups "Integrated System Development and Vehicle Concepts" (ISF), "Digital Engineering" (DE), "Additive Manufacturing Technologies" (AF) and "Energy Storage Systems" (ESS).

With its research focus on vehicle concepts, the IK is integrated into the Lower Saxony Research Center for Vehicle Technology (NFF), where it contributes methodological expertise in body and overall vehicle concept development. As the leading research institute of the research area "Flexible Vehicle Concepts and Vehicle Production" (with the research centers OpenHybrid LabFactory und Battery LabFactory Braunschweig), the IK is researching new vehicle concepts and production systems for vehicles that meet changing requirements during development, production, use and utilization in different markets in close cooperation with the other seven institute partners.

Your core task is to establish a research profile in AI-supported product development, particularly for mobility systems. The focus is on methodological approaches to the modelling, simulation and validation of digital twins of products, as well as their integration into end-to-end development and PLM processes. The emphasis will be on fundamental and applied research into domain-specific large-scale AI models for engineering applications, agent-based AI for cooperative system optimisation, and graph-based knowledge and structural models for product development. The aim is to further develop and methodically integrate multiphysics simulation models with machine learning surrogate models to accelerate design, optimisation and validation processes in product development.

The research should focus on depth of content in the following areas

• AI-methods for model-based and data-driven product development
• AI-supported vehicle and system architectures in mobility systems
• Digital twins and virtual validation in product development
• Data-driven development and design processes

Of these areas, the first two must be covered.

The successful candidate (f/m/d) is expected to be committed to the university’s strategic goals and to actively shape its holistic development (). In addition to the classic service areas of a university (research, teaching and studies, transfer, governance and administration), this applies in particular to digitalisation, internationalisation, equality and diversity, as well as knowledge exchange.

Our expectations

• A leader with management experience gained from relevant roles at universities, research institutions and in industry
• The ability to initiate, implement, coordinate and lead interdisciplinary research projects and consortia
• Experience with and a willingness to secure external funding and industrial transfer projects, as well as national and international -networking
• Extensive experience and outstanding scientific or engineering achievements in applied and industrial research
• Willingness to undertake teaching in German and English on Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes
• Willingness to help shape and contribute to the Lower Saxony Research Center for Vehicle Technology (NFF) and the core research area Mobility
• Willingness to collaborate with non-university research institutions and industry in the fields covered by the professorship
• Willingness to collaborate closely on research and teaching within the institute, with research groups in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and other faculties at the Teechnsiche Universität Braunschweig
• Willingness to contribute to the university’s self-governance and internationalisation

International research and teaching experience, excellent command of the English language, as well as the ability and willingness to teach courses in English are a prerequisite.

Individual career decisions and career breaks due to parental/family care leave affecting research output will be taken into account by the appointment committee.

Requirements, § 25 NHG

• A degree in a relevant field
• Pedagogical aptitude
• Special qualification for in-depth independent scientific work, as a rule proven by an above-average doctorate
• Additional academic achievements, usually within the framework of a junior professorship, a post-doctoral degree (Habilitation) or through achievements equivalent to a Habilitation

Notes

Technische Universität Braunschweig makes personnel decisions on the basis of suitability, ability and professional performance.

Our aim is to increase the share of women in academic positions. Therefore, we particularly welcome applications from women and will give preference to female candidates with equivalent qualifications. People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply and, if equally qualified, will be given preference in the appointment process.

Technische Universität Braunschweig is certified as a family-friendly university. We are committed to facilitating a healthy and productive work-life balance and offer a dual career service as well as support for newly appointed staff. Our Family Office provides advice on all issues relating to family, childcare, and caring for relatives. Our “Prof.-Programm” offers exclusive status-related exchange and consulting formats, in particular to newly appointed professors.

Professional and Personnel Development promotes the professional development of all employees through a wide range of courses and activities.

The university actively endorses equal opportunities and diversity and promotes diverse perspectives as essential in contributing to the university’s success in research, teaching, transfer and administration.

We particularly invite applications from international candidates (f/m/d). German language skills are not a prerequisite. However, the successful candidate is expected to acquire sufficient language skills to perform teaching and administrative duties in German within three years of appointment.

Even though this is a permanent full-time position, a part-time appointment may be possible upon request.

Applicants (f/m/d) who are 50 years or older at the time the appointment commences and who have not acquired permanent civil servant status (Beamtenverhältnis auf Lebenszeit) will be employed with employee status (Angestelltenverhältnis).

We are looking forward to your application!

Applicants (f/m/d) are requested to attach the following documents:

• Cover letter
• Academic background (curriculum vitae)
• Academic certificates and diplomas (degrees)
• List of publications, including copies of 3 select publications
• List of externally funded projects and description of own role in these projects
• Research and teaching statement
• List of courses taught and results of course evaluations
• If applicable, add proof of parental/family care leave
• If applicable, add proof of disability status.

Please submit the application, including all documents, digitally via the online portal (button underneath) of Technische Universität Braunschweig.

Deadline for application

The application deadline is 2026-07-15.

Contact

Informal enquiries about the job can be directed to

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sabine C. Langer, T + 49 531 391 8770

For questions regarding legal matters and the online application process, please contact

Nicole Brückner,
T + 49 531 391 4337,