Research Fellow in Automated Car Modelling and Control

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Research Fellow in Automated Car Modelling and Control

Employer Cranfield University Location Cranfield, UK Salary GBP 38,655.00 - 46,492.00 per year;GBP 53,108.00 per year;GBP 36,159.00 per year Closing date 30 Sep 2026

Organisation: Cranfield University
Faculty or Department: Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Based at: Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Hours of work: 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered.
Contract type: Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Period: For 18 months
Salary: Full time starting salary (if PhD is obtained) is normally in the range of £38,655 to £46,492 per annum, with potential progression up to £53,108 per annum; Full time starting salary (if PhD close to completion) is normally in the range of £36,159 per annum
Posted Date: 24/08/2026
Apply by: 30/09/2026

Role Description

We welcome applications from skilled researchers with a passion for advancing simulation, modelling and control technologies for automated cars.

About the Role

The postholder will contribute to the delivery of high-quality research in automated vehicle modelling and control systems. As a key aspect of this role, they will have the unique opportunity to gain hands on experience in developing and testing automated driving functions for our existing automated driving platform, CONRRAD, developed as part of the previous UKRI project Driven by Sound.

You will be responsible for creating a complete simulation framework based on CONRRAD and automated driving functions that fully utilise its multi-sensor stack. You could also develop your own research portfolio by supervising MSc individual research projects aligned with the Centre's research themes. You will be expected to contribute to project delivery, research dissemination through publications and technical reports, and supporting collaborative activities with academic and industrial partners.

About You

You will have a PhD (or close to completion) in a relevant subject, such as robotics, electrical/ electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, control engineering, automotive/aerospace engineering, or a closely related field, or be able to demonstrate a comparable level of knowledge and experience, typically achieved through no fewer than three years' postgraduate experience in a directly relevant research and development environment.

You will have excellent problem-solving and self-management skills, with the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary research teams. The ideal candidate will have been first author or joint first author on at least one publication in a reputable academic journal (pending publications can also be considered).

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield's world class expertise, large scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

The Advanced Vehicle Engineering Centre focuses primarily on the development, application and evaluation of advanced vehicle technologies to help make vehicles more capable, lighter, greener and more efficient. Working across multiple sectors including automotive, aerospace, agriculture, defence and motorsport, we leverage our specialisms in electric & hybrid vehicle batteries, autonomous vehicles, vehicle dynamics, brake system performance, hybrid material development for vehicle light weighting, motorsport vehicle simulation and testing, mechatronic system development and tyre dynamics etc., all to provide a holistic technical solution to our commercial clients and a well rounded, industry linked education to our students.

Find out more about the Advanced Vehicle Engineering Centre here.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

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