PhD Student in Automatic Control with focus on control allocation for future stealth aircraft
Back to available jobsWe are looking for a PhD student in automatic control!
Your work assignments
In this project, you will work and collaborate within an international research project involving several of the world’s leading aerospace organizations. It is a subproject of a NATO-wide initiative where participating organizations can test new control algorithms on sub-scale 3D-printed aircraft, developed and provided by IEI at Linköping University. This PhD project, funded by Saab, focuses on developing advanced optimization-based control algorithms for control allocation for next-generation fighter aircraft. Control allocation is of particular interest when a vehicle has multiple ways of being controlled (redundant actuators), where each method has its own advantages and disadvantages regarding factors such as radar signature and fuel consumption. Specifically, the challenges posed by stealth aircraft will be addressed, where a large number of cooperating control surfaces and/or thrust vectoring control (TVC) may be required to guarantee the platform’s safety and controllability. A key component of the planned research is the state-of-the-art QP solver daqp for embedded optimization, developed by the research group.
As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20 per cent of full-time.
Your qualifications
You have graduated at Master’s level in electrical engineering, engineering physics, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, engineering mathematic or completed courses with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses in within the subjects mentioned above. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way. The degree requirement must be met no later than at the time the employment decision is finalized, which occurs when the employment contract is signed.
The degree requirement must be met no later than at the time the employment decision is finalized, which occurs when the employment contract is signed.
Your workplace
The Division of Automatic Control is successfully conducting research as well as postgraduate and undergraduate education within areas such as autonomous systems, complex networks, data-driven modeling, learning control, optimization, and sensor fusion. The division has extensive collaborations both with industry and other research groups around the world.
Read more about the division here. For more information about the department, go to ISY.
The employment
When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for doctoral studies. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University
The employment has a duration of normally four years’ full-time equivalent. Extension of employment up to five years is based on the degree of teaching and institutional assignment. Further extensions may be granted in exceptional circumstances. You will initially be employed for one year, after which your employment will be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time, depending on your progress through the study plan.
Starting date by agreement, but we expect you to start your employment no later than October 31, 2026.
Background screening may come to be carried out before any decision on employment is made.
Salary and employment benefits
The salary of PhD students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.
More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.
Union representatives
Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.
Application procedure
Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than February 27, 2026.
Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.
We look forward to receiving your application!
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