Req ID: 5677
Place of work: Bremerhaven
Starting date: Immediately
Career level: Graduates, Experienced professionals, Managers
Type of employment: Full-time, Part time
Duration of contract: Initially for a fixed term of 3 years. The aim is to offer long-term employment.
Remuneration: Remuneration is in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector - Federal Government (TVöD-Bund)
Hint: Security clearance as well as the willingness to security clearance pursuant to §§ 8 ff. Security Clearance Act (SÜG) is a condition for employment at DLR
Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our 12,000 employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge? Then this is your place!
At the Institute for the Protection of Maritime Infrastructures in Bremerhaven, we research and develop innovative solutions to strengthen the resilience of maritime infrastructures and make them adaptable, safe and sustainable. In close cooperation with partners from research, industry and other maritime security stakeholders, we combine technological innovation with practical expertise and offer you the opportunity to work on pioneering projects.
What to expect
Research on distributed decision architectures and cooperative swarm strategies for autonomous underwater systems
From the ocean floor to the skies – shape the connected, autonomous, and robotic systems of tomorrow! – Whether under water, on the surface, or in the air – the future of maritime security lies in the intelligent cooperation of distributed systems. Autonomous swarms and system-of-systems architectures offer enormous potential – from resilient security applications and adaptive rescue networks to large-scale environmental monitoring. What truly matters is not only that each individual system functions reliably, but that they act intelligently as a collective.
Join us in developing the next generation of distributed autonomous systems – with a focus on decision-making, cooperation, and swarm intelligence under water. – In our interdisciplinary team, you will work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, and security-critical systems. Your work will center on the research and development of decision architectures and interaction mechanisms for autonomous systems in maritime contexts. You will design new concepts, prototypes, and system architectures, and bring them to life together with your team – both in lab environments and in real-world deployments at sea.
Your tasks
- provide technical and organisational leadership for a dynamic team of software developers, data scientists, and systems engineers, focused on decision logic, swarm behavior, and agent interaction
- define and manage research and development projects on decision-making in autonomous multi-system environments – above and below the water, on land, and in the air
- develop distributed decision architectures and cooperation strategies for swarms and hybrid system-of-systems in collaboration with your team
- coordinate the integration of your developments with overarching navigation, communication, and sensor networks, working closely with neighboring teams
- prepare and support field experiments and technology trials, ensuring scientific and technical documentation is maintained
- present your research results at professional events and conferences, prepare funding proposals, and represent your work to industry partners, government agencies, and international networks
Your profile
- completed academic degree (master’s or university diploma) in engineering or natural sciences (e.g., computer science, robotics, electrical engineering, mechatronics, physics), or another discipline relevant to the role
- proven experience in developing autonomous systems, AI-based robotics and/or intelligent multi-agent systems, for instance gained within the field of security-critical applications
- strong background in the design and implementation of complex experiments, prototypes, and system tests
- a structured, independent working style and demonstrated scientific or engineering excellence – for example, through a PhD or senior role in a research-oriented company
- relevant experience in guiding scientific and technical work, for example through scientific-technical management tasks in projects or supervision of theses
- many years of experience in working with interdisciplinary teams and/or external partners
- very good command of German (spoken and written) and business-fluent English
Remuneration will be paid up to pay group 14 TVöD depending on qualifications and tasks assigned.
We offer
DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.
We look forward to getting to know you!
If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 5677) please contact:
Dr. Maurice Stephan
Tel.: +49 471 924199 42
