PhD Research Fellow in Systems Engineering 

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?

We are looking for a PhD research fellow within Systems Engineering.

About the position

Are you interested in Systems Engineering, and want to engage in research with skilled colleagues who share your interests? Maybe you can become our new colleague at Department of Science and Industry Systems at the Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences. The position is available from April 1, 2026, with the latest starting date on August 1, 2026. 

This is an educational position that is primarily intended to give promising researchers the opportunity to develop academically and professionally through organised research training. 

It is a condition that the person who accepts the position applies for and is granted admission to the faculty’s doctoral programme in Systems Engineering within three months of starting in the position. 

The doctoral programme includes relevant courses corresponding to approximately six months of study (30 ETCS), a thesis based on independent research, active participation in national and international research environments, relevant research dissemination, a trial lecture and public defence of the thesis. Read more about organised research training at USN on our website.

The research fellowship is for a fixed term of three years with pure organised research training.

Your personnel manager will be Head of Department Aida Omerovic and your main supervisor will be Erika Palmer. The place of work will be at campus Kongsberg. You will be a part of a dynamic research environment. 

The person appointed will be affiliated with the Industry-oriented Research Centre for Effective Engineering and Learning in Complex Systems, SFI CELECT and the Industrial Research School in Complex Systems, INRESCOS, collaborating with researchers across USN, NTNU, and the University of Agder. 

The position is funded through SFI CELECT with funding from the Research Council of Norway.

About the doctoral project

The PhD project focuses on Accelerating Defense Acquisition Through Sociotechnical Systems Modelling.

Due to an increasingly complex security environment and rapid technological advancements, the Norwegian Defense sector faces urgent pressure to create improved systems and reduce product delivery time to protect national security and future prosperity. Development cycles have compressed dramatically, from 20 years to as little as 3 months. Defense industries and governments must deliver competitive, quality products within extremely short timeframes, making the integrator-supplier relationship critical.

A major challenge lies in bridging organizational understanding with technical overview, a gap this PhD position addresses through modelling and simulation of sociotechnical systems. 

This project seeks a candidate with expertise in modelling dynamic behaviours of complex sociotechnical systems, particularly in aerospace or defence contexts. The ideal candidate brings project management experience, has participated in government-industry partnerships advancing public objectives, and understands cross-sector safety principles, especially human error reduction in critical systems. Experience interviewing multidisciplinary stakeholders to characterize systems and generate actionable recommendations is essential. Software engineering background is valuable given software's growing role in defence acquisition.

The goal of this project is to create new modelling and simulation methods for evaluating the defense acquisition ecosystem with regards to innovation and bridging the intra-inter organizational and technical domains through sociotechnical systems.

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 
• Scholarly publications 
• Participate in The Norwegian Industrial Systems Engineering Research Group 
• Participate in CELECT and INRESCOS activities such as courses, workshops and industrial meetings 
• Participate in national and/or international activities such as conferences

Qualifications

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

This project seeks a candidate with expertise in modelling dynamic behaviors of complex sociotechnical systems, particularly in aerospace, defense, maritime and manufacturing contexts. The ideal candidate brings project management experience, has participated in government-industry partnerships advancing public objectives, and understands cross-sector safety principles, especially human error reduction in critical systems. Experience with interviewing multidisciplinary stakeholders to characterize systems and generate actionable recommendations is essential. Software engineering background is also valuable.

• Master’s degree (120 ECTS credits) within Systems Engineering or Systems Architecting 
• Bachelor’s degrees in any engineering discipline or computer science 
• System Dynamics Modeling and Simulation skills, at the master’s level 
• 3-5 years industry experience from aerospace and/or defence, including project management experience 
• Weighted average grade of B or higher on the master’s degree 
• The master’s degree must have been obtained before the starting date. 
• 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 
• Experience with system dynamics modelling (simulation) 
• Experience from government-industry partnerships

 

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.

 

Motivation letter

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

The 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.

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 license is also required, and the applicant must meet the requirements for this. You can read more about export licenses on DEKSA's website.

What do 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. 

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 at the University of South-Eastern Norway  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.

Contact information

For more information about the position, please contact:

Head of Department, Aida Omerovic, aida.omerovic@usn.no, +4735952653 

Associate Professor, Erika Kristin Palmer, erika.palmer@usn.no, +4731009974

For questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact:

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

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)
• Your master’s thesis. If your master’s thesis was a collaborative project, you must submit a short statement detailing your involvement
• Other relevant certificates and diplomas
• A motivation letter containing a personal statement explaining your motivation for the position, maximum 1page 
• Documentation of your English language skills
• List of any scholarly publications
• Contact information for up to three references

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.

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

Institutt for realfag og industrisystemer - Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge 

Video: https://vimeo.com/898549899/60305e2540