Research Associate - Vehicle Lightweight Construction (Remote)

About the Role

We are looking for a dedicated Research Associate to join our team at the University of Siegen, focusing on Vehicle Lightweight Construction. This is a fantastic opportunity for a skilled professional to contribute to innovative research while working remotely. As a Research Associate, you will engage in experimental characterization of high-dynamic material behavior of the latest steels, including plasticity, failure, and fracture.

What You'll Do

• Conduct experimental characterization of advanced steel materials, focusing on dynamic material characteristics.
• Develop phenomenological material laws to describe dynamic material behaviors and program in User Material Data Subroutines (UMAT).
• Enhance understanding of deformation-induced martensitic transformations in Generation III steels and their effects on forming and crash properties.
• Perform material analytics through microscopic investigations such as XRD and REM.
• Plan, execute, and analyze material and component tests on static and dynamic test stands.
• Collaborate on industrial projects related to crash calculations and structural designs.
• Teach 4 semester hours per week as part of your responsibilities.

Requirements

• Good to very good completed scientific university degree (Diploma TU/Master) in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or Manufacturing Technology.
• Strong knowledge of steel materials, their phase transformations, and properties.
• Experience in numerical simulation (e.g., LS-Dyna).
• Programming experience in MATLAB, Python, or FORTRAN is desirable.
• Basic knowledge of CAD is advantageous.
• Excellent German and English language skills.
• Independent and structured working style with high performance and communication skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience in material characterization methods and microstructure analysis.
• Familiarity with advanced material testing techniques.

What We Offer

• Support for your scientific qualification according to the Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act (e.g., PhD).
• An innovative and creative working environment.
• Close cooperation with industry and science.
• A management style that tolerates errors and allows for experimentation.
• Comprehensive hardware and software resources for scientific work.

We look forward to receiving your application by March 25, 2026. Please apply exclusively through our job portal (https://jobs.uni-siegen.de). Applications in paper form or via email cannot be considered.