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Student (f/m/x) Modelling and Characterization of Ship Airwake Disturbances
Job Description
Req ID:  6418
Place of work:  Braunschweig
Starting date:  15.11.2026
Career level:  Student research project and final thesis
Type of employment:  Part time, Full-time
Duration of contract:  6-9 Month

Remuneration: Remuneration is in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector - Federal Government (TVöD-Bund).

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!

Welcome to the Institute of Flight Systems. Our work focuses on the interaction between aircraft configuration, pilots and modern flight system technology. From flight dynamics to unmanned aerial vehicles, from simulation to real flight tests - we analyse, test and develop innovations that will shape the flying of the future.

 

We in the Helicopter Department focus on rotor system and flight system technology for helicopters and other rotorcraft configurations. The goal of these activities is to support the development of new technologies and evaluate them in terms of improving flying characteristics, handling qualities, safety, economic efficiency, environmental compatibility, and mission effectiveness. The department's work includes system analysis, modeling and simulation of rotorcraft configurations and system components, as well as wind tunnel tests and in-flight testing.

 

Your tasks

 

  • Literature review Control equivalent Turbulence Input (CETI) methods, rotorcraft turbulence modelling, and ship airwake characterization.
  • Analyse and characterize ship airwake disturbances based on the available CFD data
  • Derivation of control-equivalent turbulence inputs
  • Develop reduced-order CETI models capturing the control-relevant disturbance characteristics of the airwake.
  • Investigate the dependency of CETI model parameters on relevant operational conditions, such as wind conditions.
  • Develop a parameter-dependent CETI modelling approach for the generation of representative ship-airwake disturbances across different operational conditions.
  • Optionally, evaluate the developed CETI models in a helicopter simulation environment with respect to their applicability for flight-control design and disturbance rejection assessment.

 

Your profile

 

  • Currently enrolled in a degree program with a first year in Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Electronics, Mechatronics or a comparable degree program
  • Other specialized knowledge, skills and experience relevant for the job
  • In-depth knowledge of control engineering, ideally flight control
  • Knowledge of flight mechanics of rotary-wing aircraft
  • Knowledge of modeling and simulation of dynamic systems
  • Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, ideally with optimization

 

 

 

 

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 6418) please contact:

 

Marc Höfinger 
Tel.: +49 531 295 3249 
Apply now