Join our team at TU Delft to develop a 1–2 MW-class supercritical CO2 power‑cycle test facility, design high‑performance turbomachinery, and quantify windage losses in high‑speed rotating flows.
Job descriptionSupercritical CO2 power cycles enable compact, high‑efficiency power conversion, but they pose major challenges for turbomachinery integration and loss control at high rotational speeds. In this project, TU Delft works with an industrial partner developing high‑speed motors and generators. The aim is to design, build, and test a high‑speed generator that will later be integrated into a hermetically sealed turbogenerator module.
In this postdoctoral position, you will lead the design of a 1–2 MW net‑power sCO2 test setup and the optimization of the associated turbomachinery. In parallel, you will perform detailed CFD studies (using LES or DNS) to quantify windage losses in Taylor–Couette‑type configurations with supercritical CO2 and strongly variable properties. Your outcomes will directly feed into loss estimations, design rules, and specifications for the demonstrator.
Key tasks- Designing a 1–2 MW‑class sCO2 test setup (cycle layout, operating map, instrumentation, control and safety concept).
- Designing and optimizing the turbomachinery (mean‑line / quasi‑1D design, refinement with 3D CFD where needed).
- Defining interfaces between turbomachinery, generator, and the long‑term hermetically sealed module, in close collaboration with the industrial partner and a PhD candidate developing the generator.
- Running high‑fidelity CFD (LES or DNS) of rotating shear flows (Taylor–Couette‑type setups) with real‑fluid CO2 and variable properties to quantify windage losses and their scaling.
- Translating results into engineering models (loss correlations, uncertainty bounds, and practical design recommendations).
As a post‑doc, you will join a multi‑disciplinary team of specialists in energy technology, high‑performance computing for CFD and electrical engineering. You will work in the department of Process and Energy (Mechanical Engineering) within the Energy Technology group. The team includes researchers focused on enhanced power cycles, exascale turbulent multiphase simulations, hydrogen mixing, combustion, and more. You will collaborate closely with Prof. Dr. Rene Pecnik and Dr. Ir. Jurriaan Peeters at the intersection of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
Job requirements- A PhD (or equivalent) in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied physics, or a closely related field.
- Strong background in thermodynamics, turbomachinery, and fluid dynamics.
- Demonstrated experience with CFD; experience with rotating flows and/or LES/DNS is a strong plus.
- Solid programming skills (e.g., Python and C/C++); experience with HPC and/or GPU computing is beneficial.
- Ability to work independently and drive system‑level design while collaborating effectively in an interdisciplinary and industry‑linked team.
- Good command of English, both written and spoken.
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world‑famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university that combines science, engineering and design. It delivers world‑class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. TU Delft embraces diversity as one of our core values and actively engages to create a welcoming community. Your application will receive fair consideration.
Faculty Mechanical EngineeringFrom chip to ship, from machine to human being – the faculty focuses on fundamental understanding, design, production and application of mechanical systems. The faculty’s state‑of‑the‑art facilities and international reach foster productive research and education, making it a rewarding environment for engineers and scientists.
Conditions of employment- Duration of contract: 2 years (Temporary)
- Job: 36‑40 hours per week.
- Salary and benefits in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
- Excellent pension scheme via ABP.
- Possibility to compile an individual employment package each year.
- Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
- Flexible working week.
- 232 leave hours per year (at 38 hours). Additional leave hours can be sold or bought via the individual choice budget.
- Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
- Partially paid parental leave.
- Program to promote healthy, energetic working life (Vitality program).
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact recruitment-me@tudelft.nl.
Application procedureAre you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 15 April 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
- CV
- Motivational letter
- Applications must be submitted online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
- As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is conducted based on information provided by candidates (e.g., motivation letter and CV) and occurs at the final stages of the selection process. Processing of personal data is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. More information on this assessment can be found in the knowledge security section of our website.
- Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.
€40000 - €55000 monthly