PhD Research Fellow in Systems Engineering 

PhD Research Fellow in Systems Engineering – Life-cycle perspectives on system qualities: changeability and affordability

Do you want to contribute to the development of knowledge, insight and solutions that are relevant to society and working life today and in the future?

Power grids and energy installations run for 30–50 years – but the information about how they are actually built is often wrong. Help make long-living systems easy and affordable to update. We are looking for a PhD research fellow within Systems Engineering.

About the position

Do you want to help keep long-living energy and infrastructure systems up to date, changeable and affordable for decades? Join us as a PhD research fellow at the Department of Science and Industry Systems, campus Kongsberg. Start: May 2027 (at the latest August 2027).

You will be part of SFI CELECT – the Centre for Effective Engineering and Learning in Complex Systems – whose vision is to do more with less, and faster. The centre, funded by the Research Council of Norway, brings together Norway's leading industrial companies and 30 PhD candidates across USN, NTNU and the University of Agder. You will also join the Industrial Research School in Complex Systems (INRESCOS).

Campus Kongsberg sits at the heart of one of Norway's strongest technology clusters, with world-leading companies in maritime, defence, aerospace, energy and subsea technology. Research and industry work side by side – giving you a unique network and strong career opportunities in industry or academia.

The position is a three-year educational position with pure organised research training. A four-year appointment with 25% career-advancing work may be considered.

You must apply for and be admitted to the doctoral programme in Technology (Systems Engineering) within three months of starting. The programme includes courses of about six months (30 ECTS), an independent thesis, research dissemination, a trial lecture and a public defence.

Your supervisors will be Professor Kristin Falk (main supervisor) and Professor Gerrit Muller (co-supervisor). Your workplace will be shared between campus Kongsberg and one or several CELECT partner companies: depending on the project, you will spend between 3 and 30 months located at a company's premises. You are expected to be present at campus or at the company during ordinary working hours.

About the doctoral project

The aim of this PhD is to develop lightweight, AI-supported architecting methods that make long-living systems changeable and affordable – from early architecture decisions to upgrades decades later.

Energy, infrastructure and defence systems run for 30–50 years. Early architecture decisions largely determine how well they can be changed later, and what that costs. Yet changeability and affordability often start as vague requirements, and asset information gets lost through many manual handovers. Without knowing the real configuration in the field, every upgrade becomes slow, costly and risky.

In this PhD you will investigate how lightweight architecting, the digital thread and AI can connect requirements, architecture and operation across the life cycle – and help engineers weigh changeability against life-cycle cost. Questions you could explore:
 • Where and why are changeability and affordability lost between requirements, operation and maintenance?
 • How can AI and the digital thread support early trade-offs, and later decisions on upgrades and reinvestment?
 • How well do such methods transfer between product development, critical infrastructure and defence?

You will help shape the final research questions together with your supervisors and industry partners.

The project is part of SFI CELECT headed by Professor Kristin Falk. Industrial cases will be selected among CELECT partners such as TechnipFMC, Glitre Nett, Herøya Industripark and Forsvarsmateriell. Using industry as your laboratory, you will work alongside engineers and systems architects on real development projects. A research stay abroad may be possible.

This position is one of several related CELECT PhD positions at USN: it focuses on the long life cycle of systems, and complements positions on early design and validation (PhD1.3), early systems integration in systems-of-systems (PhD1.5) and competence development for industry (PhD5.1).

You will be part of the Norwegian Industrial Systems Engineering Research Group (NISE). 

Duties

• Complete the doctoral programme up to completion of the doctoral degree within the employment period
• Conduct high-calibre research within the framework described above
• Academic publications in high-quality journals and conferences
• Actively work with companies in an industry-as-laboratory environment, combining qualitative and quantitative research
• Report progress and deliver outputs to the CELECT centre
• Participate in the Norwegian Industrial Systems Engineering Research Group (NISE)
• Active involvement in SFI CELECT's doctoral team across NTNU, USN and UiA, including the research school INRESCOS, and participation in common workshops, learning events and courses
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign research and educational institutions
• Be prepared for changes in your work tasks after appointment

Qualifications

All items are requirements, unless it is specified that they are preferred qualifications.  

• Master's degree (120 ECTS credits) (or equivalent qualifications) within Systems Engineering, Systems Architecture, mechanical, electrical/energy, industrial or software engineering, or a similar relevant engineering discipline
• Documented knowledge of relevant methodologies, both quantitative and/or qualitative, at master's level
• Weighted average grade of B or higher on the master's degree and thesis
• The master’s thesis must have been submitted for assessment by the application deadline for the position and approved before starting in the position
• Understanding of and interest in AI/ML and data analysis is preferred
• Knowledge of requirements engineering, systems architecting, configuration management, digital thread or asset management is preferred
• Industrial experience from energy systems, power grids or other long-living infrastructure or products, preferably from Norwegian industry, is preferred
• Proficiency in a Scandinavian language, or Norwegian at level B2, is preferred
• Excellent written and oral English language skills
• Meet the formal requirements for admission to USN's doctoral programmes and the Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences' doctoral programme in Technology, with the topic of Systems Engineering, no later than three months after starting in the position

Personal qualities

In order to be able to complete a doctoral degree, you need to be able to:

• demonstrate motivation and potential for research in the field
• work independently, but also participate in teamwork
•  work in a structured way, set goals, and make plans to achieve them
•  present and discuss your research with other academics
• get involved and contribute constructively with feedback
• work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity
• show curiosity and strong motivation for the subject area
• analyse data, assess different perspectives, and draw well-founded conclusions
• work collaboratively in an industrial setting with the CELECT partners
• be flexible and open to adjusting the project plan as necessary
• have the academic skills and personal qualities to be able to complete the doctoral programme within the employment period

When assessing applications, particular importance will be attached to 

• Formal qualifications
• The personal qualities mentioned above
• Motivation letter
• Work experience from Norwegian industry
• Qualifications and experience in systems architecting, requirements engineering or life-cycle/asset management

Requirements for proficiency in English 

This position requires good English language skills. International applicants must document this with a valid certificate from one of the following tests. Specific requirements regarding grades can be found on our webpage English requirement for programmes and subjects taught in English at USN.

• TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test (IBT)
• IELTS – International English Language Testing Service 
• Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) from the University of Cambridge
• PTE Academic – Pearson Test of English Academic

The following applicants are exempt from the requirements listed above:

• Applicants with one year of completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK or USA
• Applicants who have completed a master’s degree with English as the language of instruction in an EU or EEA country
• Applicants who are exempt based on the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir)’s GSU list (Higher Education Entrance Qualification for foreign applicants)

Applicants from Norway can confirm their English language skills by submitting their upper secondary school diploma.

Requirements for proficiency in Norwegian

The position has no formal requirement for proficiency in Norwegian. Proficiency in a Scandinavian language, or Norwegian at level B2 (language levels as defined by HK-dir.), is preferred.

Applicants who wish this to be taken into account must document their language skills in the application (see How to apply).

Requirements regarding a licence and/or security clearance

The applicant must meet the requirements for authorization for restricted. You can read more about security clearance on the websites of the National Security Authority and the Civil Clearance Authority. For the position, an export licence is also required, and the applicant must meet the requirements for this. You can read more about export licences on DEKSA's website.

Motivation letter

Applicants must submit a motivation letter with the application. This should be short and concise, maximum 500 words.

The final project description and work plan will be prepared in consultation with the supervisor(s) during the first three months of the employment period. It is a prerequisite that you complete the project during the employment period.

What we offer

• Organised research training in a large undertaking with an important social mission
• Careers advice and guidance throughout the entire doctoral programme. Together we will draw up a career plan that includes the skills and knowledge you will acquire
• An inclusive working environment with ambitious colleagues
• The opportunity to take Norwegian language courses
• Salary in accordance with the Norwegian State salary scale for PhD research fellows (position code 1017) NOK 550,800. In special cases, code 1378 may be used. Any further increases in pay grade will be based on length of service in the position
• Deductions will be made from your salary in order to make statutory contributions to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund on your behalf
• Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, ensuring favourable pension, insurance and loan schemes

Diversity

We believe that diversity is a resource in our work and learning environment. Different experiences and backgrounds contribute to different perspectives and better solutions to challenges that need to be solved.

We are committed to respecting each other's differences and will facilitate employees with disabilities. We take into account your needs and your situation in different phases of life.

If you find this position interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, disability, cultural background or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in their CV or an immigrant background, we will call at least one applicant in each of these groups for an interview. If you recognize yourself in one of these categories, you can tick the box in our job search portal.

The university aims to recruit more women to PhD positions within the field. If multiple applicants are considered to have equivalent qualifications, a woman will be given priority over a man.

General information

The Appointment Committee for Fellowship Positions (TUS) is the appointing authority for this position. Your competence for the position will be assessed by an expert committee. The expert committee will assess your competence for the position based on the documentation you have registered in Jobbnorge. 

Based on the expert committee’s assessment, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview and to hold a trial lecture. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. 

Employment at USN is carried out in accordance with the principles set out in the Norwegian Civil Service Act, and the legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services. If your application is considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter legislation, it will be rejected without further consideration.

The University's Guidelines for Recruitment Positions provide a more detailed description of the criteria for appointment as a PhD research fellow.

As an employee of USN, you must at all times adapt to changes in the field and all organisational changes that are adopted.

How to apply

If you think this position looks interesting and matches your qualifications, you can submit an application electronically by clicking on “Apply for the position” on this page. Here you will need to enter a short application text and information about your relevant education and work experience. In the application text, you must clearly describe your skills and motivation for the position. 

The application must include:

• Certified diplomas for your bachelor’s and master’s degrees (120 ECTS). The diplomas must be in a Scandinavian language or English
  • Applicants with higher education completed outside Norway must provide documentation that the education has been recognised and approved by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) You must submit your application for approval before the position’s application deadline. Attach a receipt or decision when applying. The approval must be forwarded once available and is a requirement for employment.
• An explanation of the grading system for foreign education (diploma supplement if available)
• Other relevant certificates and diplomas
• A motivation letter containing a personal statement explaining your motivation for the position, maximum 500 words
• Documentation of your Scandinavian/Norwegian language skills (if relevant, see Requirements for proficiency in Norwegian)
  • Language proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish can be documented in the following ways:
    • a high school diploma
    • a diploma from higher education completed in a Scandinavian language
    • a passed language test that documents Norwegian skills at the B2 level, for example the “Norskprøve for innvandrere” or a level 3 Norwegian course at a higher education institution
• Documentation of your English language skills (see Requirements for proficiency in English above)
• List of any scholarly publications
• Contact information for up to three references
• A copy of your passport (required for export licence / security clearance)

The application will be assessed based on the information available in Jobbnorge at the expiry of the application deadline. Make sure your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the competence requirements described in the job advertisement. 

When assessing who is best qualified for the position, we attach weight to education, experience and personal qualities. 

All documentation must be provided in a Scandinavian language or English. If the attachments exceed 30 MB in total, they must be compressed before uploading.

Please note that information about you as an applicant may be disclosed publicly even if you have requested not to be included on the public list of applicants (cf. Section 25 of the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act).  You will be notified if your request for exemption from public disclosure is denied.

We only consider applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge. On request, you must be able to provide certified copies of your documentation.

Contact information

For more information about the position, please contact:

Head of Department Professor Aida Omerovic, aida.omerovic@usn.no, +47 35 95 26 53 

Professor Kristin Falk, kristin.falk@usn.no, +47 97 58 69 09

Professor Satyanarayana (Satya) Kokkula, satyanarayana.kokkula@usn.no, +47 31 00 88 13

For questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact:

Advisor Tonje Holt Vøllestad, tonje.h.vollestad@usn.no

About us

The University of Southeastern Norway (USN) ranks as the country's fourth largest higher education institution. We are a vibrant community of approximately 18,000 students and 1,900 employees.

About the Faculty and Department

Department of Science and Industry Systems – University of South-Eastern Norway: 

Institutt for realfag og industrisystemer - Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge