Research Associate Control Engineering - Energy Systems

About the job

The Institute for Energy Systems (IES) in Buchs SG is one of the leading addresses for Swiss heat pump research. We are establishing a new focus: model-based control for heat pumps and other flexible loads. Operating them optimally and utilising their flexibility is crucial for the energy transition. For this purpose, we are looking to fill the position immediately or by arrangement:

Research Associate Control Engineering - Energy Systems

You develop methods that apply across large plant inventories – based on our heat pump test centre, the only accredited one in Switzerland, and on ten years of our own high-resolution field measurement data.

Research Associate Control Engineering - Energy Systems

Your field of activity

• You develop scalable model-based control and optimisation concepts for heat pumps and other flexible loads
• You model and identify heat pump, building and energy systems and evaluate extensive field and test bench measurement data for this purpose
• You design and test scalable interfaces for connecting, monitoring and controlling field plants as well as investigation and measurement concepts
• You transfer your methods into software tools that are used in real operation by energy suppliers and plant manufacturers, partly as open source
• You independently manage work packages in applied research projects, collaborate with industry partners and provide technical guidance to staff
• You publish your results, contribute to project proposals and supervise students

Your expertise

• Completed engineering degree (Master) in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics, technical cybernetics, automation technology or related field; PhD advantageous
• At least 5 years of functionally relevant professional experience in industry or academia in model-based control, modelling or system identification
• Proven practical experience in implementation on real technical systems and with extensive real measurement or operational data
• Programming skills in Python at a productive level; use of AI-supported development tools and language models in productive processing pipelines advantageous
• Ability to independently design approaches for open questions – and find solutions that withstand real industrial practice; project management experience advantageous
• Structured working method, strong communication skills with practical partners, scientific integrity and interest in developing the subject area

Why you fit with us and what to expect

• Your results do not remain on paper – they go directly to plant manufacturers and energy suppliers who use them
• You help build a new focus – you shape what we work on, how we work and how the team grows
• Are you from a related industry? Explicitly welcome: you must bring methodological competence; we will build heat pump-specific expertise with you

Interested?

Have we piqued your interest? Then we look forward to receiving your application via our online tool (jobs-ost.ch). For technical questions, Prof. Dr Matthäus Alberding, Head of Control & Systems Engineering at the Institute for Energy Systems, is happy to assist you at matthaeus.alberding@ost.ch.

Your benefits with us

Our benefits can be found on our career page .

About OST

OST - Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences is an intercantonal and international university of applied sciences with locations in Buchs, Rapperswil-Jona and St. Gallen. With excellent Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes as well as continuing education up to date, we train future-oriented specialists and executives. In the field of application-oriented research and development as well as services, we are among the leading institutions nationally.

Questions about the application process

Sylvia Iten
HR Business Partner
sylvia.iten@ost.ch

Subject-specific questions