Scientist Innovator Advanced Materials - Defence Systems

We are currently looking for a Scientist Innovator Advanced Materials to join the team in The Hague.

As a Scientist Innovator Advanced Materials, you will work on the development and testing of protection concepts for vehicles, as well as the development of advanced (protective) materials against ballistic threats and explosions.

This work will be carried out largely within the military domain, and partly within the civilian one. With this support, new protection technologies are developed that are ultimately deployed by units of the Dutch Armed Forces, as well as by foreign armed forces and police forces. Within the department, both theoretical and experimental research is conducted.

As a Scientist Innovator Advanced Materials, you will work on the development and improvement of new material and protection concepts for highly dynamic loads, such as ballistic impacts or explosions.

One of the objectives, for example, is to develop more lightweight vehicle protection concepts that optimise the balance between protection and manoeuvrability. The use of composite materials is one of the approaches used to achieve this.

Together with our customers and partners from the defence sector and industry, you will work on the development and validation of new and existing materials and concepts, ensuring that they can ultimately be applied in practice. To achieve an optimal understanding of the phenomena involved, numerical simulations and experimental research go hand in hand. Naturally, you will carefully document and report the results of your research.

The main focus of this position will be on conducting (numerical) simulations using finite element software. In addition, you will work on the underlying physics, experiments and analyses, developing an understanding of exactly what happens during an explosion or ballistic impact.

For input and validation of the simulations, we make use of a unique lab, where live-fire and explosive testing is carried out. In addition, small- and large-scale experiments are regularly conducted at outdoor test facilities in the Netherlands and abroad.

Based on our knowledge of new and existing technologies, you will advise clients—including the Dutch Ministry of Defence, the police, and national and international companies—on innovation and the (future) implementation of new materials and protection concepts.

We are looking for a colleague with an open and proactive attitude who is curious and able to develop new research initiatives into concrete proposals and execution.

You are an enthusiastic and creative researcher with an eye for detail, who is not afraid to think outside the box. At the same time, you keep the eventual practical application in mind. You have strong social and communication skills and are able to explain complex concepts in an understandable way, for example to a client with a less technical background. You are willing to take responsibility for the results and for your own professional development.

In addition, you bring:

• A completed Master’s degree (WO) in a relevant technical field, such as Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science.
• Knowledge of mechanics/dynamics, preferably involving composite materials.
• Proficiency in numerical techniques, particularly finite element method (FEM) software.
• Strong reporting skills.
• Proficiency in Dutch and English, both spoken and written, at at least B1 leve