About this role

PhD Student Lifetime Prediction Power Modules (f/m/d)

Job ID: 31008

Company: Volkswagen AG

Location: Baunatal, DE, 34225

Department: Research and Development

Career Level: PhD students

Working Model: Full-time

Contract Type: Fixed-term

Remote Working: By agreement

Posting Date: Oct 9, 2026

Work environment

The component development team in Kassel develops electric drives, hybrid transmissions, transmission components, power electronics, and their subcomponents. The department for stress and lifetime simulation plays an important cross-functional role in increasingly shorter product development cycles for inverter platforms. As part of an interdisciplinary team comprising simulation, design, manufacturing process development, material analysis, and testing, you will help shape the next generation of power modules using innovative and efficient virtual methods and contribute to robust product designs. Sounds interesting? We look forward to receiving your application!

Possible tasks within this role

Modeling materials and joining technologies used in electronics with regard to material behavior and lifetime under thermal cycling conditions
Planning, coordinating, and analyzing material tests for material and lifetime characterization
Performing thermomechanical FEM simulations of power modules along the manufacturing process chain and during operation
Validating and further developing simulation models through model updating
Automating thermomechanical simulation workflows

The final doctoral topic is defined together with the professor. The prerequisite for the cooperation is the confirmation of supervision as well as a confirmed delimitation of topics by the professor of a university or research institution entitled to confer a doctorate.

Qualification requirements

Good to very good university degree qualifying for doctoral studies in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, technomathematics, or comparable field of study
Knowledge of material modelling, material testing methods, finite element method, and a commercial FE software (Abaqus is desirable)
Good to very good programming skills (Python is desirable)
Knowledge and interest in virtual development and simulation-based testing
Analytical, solution-oriented, and structured approach to work
German or English language level C1

The following documents must be submitted with your application

Curriculum Vitae
Current transcript of records / master's certificate

Keywords

Power modules, simulation, thermomechanics, material modeling, lifetime, automatization

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

The gross monthly salary for this position, based on a 35-hour workweek and scaled according to the respective year of employment, is €3,030 (1st year), €3,194 (2nd year), and €3,497 (3rd year). In addition, there is a monthly allowance of €167 as well as a 49% share of the variable bonus.