Vacancy-ID: 5145
Place of work: Hamburg
Starting date: 01.09.2026
Career level: Graduates
Type of employment: Full-time; Part time
Duration of contract: 3
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!
The DLR Institute of Maintenance and Modification is dedicated to shaping the future of aviation through research and technology transfer. With its vision of “We Maintain Mobility for a Sustainable Future,” the institute focuses on life cycle analysis, maintenance technologies, and the optimization of digital processes to improve technical operations in aviation.
What to expect
At the DLR Institute of Maintenance and Modification in Hamburg-Finkenwerder, novel approaches for estimating the future maintenance requirements of hydrogen-based and fuel cell-powered aircraft concepts are being investigated in the early stages of aircraft development. In doing so, we are tackling what is probably the biggest challenge in the aviation industry today, the transition to more sustainable aircraft operations - not only from a technological perspective, but also with regard to the expected impact on maintenance and economic viability.
As part of your work, you will use suitable condition-based maintenance (CBM) solutions to analyse how expected failures can be predicted at an early stage and how the maintenance-relevant effects for fuel cell-powered aircraft can be taken into account. You will build on our previous analyses of maintenance requirements for hydrogen-powered aircraft and integrate your findings into our Python-based framework for prescriptive maintenance. You will define possible approaches for automated fault diagnosis and failure prediction for fuel cell-based propulsion systems to assess their impact on relevant factors.
Your tasks
- Scientific literature research on prognosis-based maintenance decisions and maintenance requirements of hydrogen-powered aircraft
- Analysing current (planned) maintenance procedures and approaches to spare parts inventory management
- Extension of the functions of our Python-based framework to integrate defined maintenance requirements for hydrogen-powered aircraft
- Carrying out a comparative economic requirements and impact analysis between conventionally maintained paraffin and hydrogen-powered and CBM-based hydrogen-powered aircraft concepts
- Derivation of system design requirements to reduce identified challenges for future aircraft generations
- Publications in scientific publications, at (inter)national conferences and with project partners
Your profile
- postgraduate university degree (Master or its equivalent) in engineering (e.g. in the fields of aerospace engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering) or other fields relevant to the position
- Knowledge of maintenance requirements for commercial aircraft
- Basic knowledge of the technical characteristics of hydrogen systems in aviation
- Sound understanding of the aviation industry and its stakeholders
- Good programming skills, preferably in Python
- Strong problem-solving skills, systematic and structured thinking, and the ability to work in a team
- Very good command of English, German language skills desirable
Remuneration is up to the German TVöD 13 depending on qualifications and assigned tasks.
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 5145) please contact:
Dr. Ahmad Ali Pohya
Tel.: +49 40 2489641 143
