Job Description

Brief Role Description

The Department of Process and Materials Engineering offers doctoral candidates a highly innovative environment in which metallic and non‑metallic materials are analyzed as part of quality assurance at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. You will work on demanding questions related to damage analysis, operating forces, friction coefficients, and various mechanical and electrical parameters that are essential for troubleshooting complex components. In addition, you will support production teams during the testing and commissioning of new tightening tools, gaining valuable insights into real industrial processes. As technological advancements reshape the automotive industry, requirements for fastening technologies and their manufacturing processes continue to evolve. Within your doctoral research, you will have the opportunity to investigate a selected area of industrial screw assembly and thereby contribute directly to quality and efficiency improvements in vehicle production. If you are interested in helping shape the production processes of tomorrow, we look forward to hearing from you!

Possible Tasks within this Role

• Pattern recognition and artificial intelligence for evaluating tightening data and predicting trends
• Tribological analysis of fasteners to optimize process stability

The final doctoral topic will be defined jointly with the supervising professor. A prerequisite for collaboration is a supervision commitment and confirmed topic definition from a professor at a university or research institution with doctoral qualification. Supervision requests can be facilitated through existing cooperations between Volkswagen and universities/research institutions.

Qualification requirements

• Good to very good university degree qualifying for doctoral studies in engineering sciences, engineering, or comparable disciplines
• German Language Level C1
• Willingness to familiarize yourself with new areas of work
• Enthusiasm for experimental techniques, interdisciplinary analysis methods, and practical application
• Initial experience in academic/scientific work
• High level of initiative, independence, and determination
• Quick understanding of complex interrelationships

The following documents must be submitted with the application

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Current transcript of records
• Work permit for non‑EU citizens

Keywords

Functional testing, Process robustness, Material characterization, Dissertation

What we offer

• Attractive salary & 30 vacation days (+ 24.12. and 31.12. off)
• 35-hour week, flexible working hours, remote work
• Special conditions for the purchase and leasing of vehicles
• Free seminars on scientific work and interdisciplinary qualifications
• Participation in the doctoral network for scientific exchange with science representatives and other doctoral candidates within the Volkswagen Group

Contact person for this posting: Tanja Oberbeck