→ Apply before 10/08/2026 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)
→ Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
→ Department: EA15 - Civiele Techniek
→ Occupancy rate:100%
→ Number of positions: 1
→ Type of employment: Contract of limited duration
→ Term of assignment: 2 jaar
→ Wage scale: WM1 to WM4 (master degree)
→ Required diploma:Master
ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY
Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programs grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
YOUR TASKS
For the design, implementation and operation of the new wind generation system at the Coastal & Ocean Basin (COB) laboratory in Ostend, we are looking for someone who is capable and interested to act as the COB wind engineer. In this position you are responsible to manage the design activities related to the new COB wind generation system. You will also act as contact point for the company which will be tasked to manufacture the wind generator for COB. This involves planning and monitoring the activities and interfaces, regular design review meetings with the company, construction progress meetings, factory and site acceptance testing, commissioning and operation of the system. Your tasks also involve administrative technical support of the activities in COB, such as preparation of tender documents for the new wind generator and client interactions during the project. The Coastal & Ocean Basin (COB) is located in the recently constructed Flanders Maritime Laboratory in Ostend, Belgium. In this laboratory, tests are performed with scale models of breakwaters, offshore wind turbines, artificial reefs and renewable energy systems (such as wave energy converters or floating power plants). In the future, the wind generation system will be a strong additional asset to also test offshore renewable energy technologies, such as offshore floating wind, in the presence of wind loading, enabling an even more robust design of these systems and growth of the sector. The COB is managed by the consortium of Ghent University, KU Leuven and Flanders Hydraulics Research. More information can be found on www.cob.ugent.be.
As a summary, your tasks involve:
- Design activities related to the new wind generation system for COB. Sourcing of information related to wind generation systems and integration into an updated design
- Become the contact point for the company supplying the wind generator and the activities related to the operational use of the wind generation system
- Planning, conducting and processing regular design review meetings with the company
- Preparation of technical/administrative tender documents for the purchase
- Technical follow-up of the design process, involving own calculations and computations to monitor the manufacturing progress
- Regular visits at the manufacturer
- Planning, conducting and evaluating the factory acceptance and site acceptance testing
- Project planning of experimental test campaigns involving the wind generation system (incl. planning, execution, data analysis and reporting).
- Administrative and technical follow-up of new installations in the COB.
- Assisting in preparation of offers related to the new wind generation system (design of test methodology and drafting of test matrix and instrumentation plan) for wave tank projects.
- Implementation of the COB strategy, in close cooperation with COB director.
You will be working in the Coastal & Ocean Basin in Ostend (Flanders Maritime Laboratory, Wetenschapspark 8, 8400 Oostende) and the Coastal Engineering Research Group at Ghent University (Technologiepark 60, 9052 Zwijnaarde).
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Knowledge and experience
- You hold a Master’s degree in an engineering field (preferably with a focus on industrial engineering, fluid mechanics coastal/offshore engineering, civil engineering, (electro-) mechanical engineering, control engineering or similar).
- If you hold a Master’s degree in a different field, then please specify how this degree will support you in your role as Wind Engineer.
- You have experience working in a laboratory environment and with planning, preparing and conducting experiments related to actuation systems.
- You have experience interacting with clients or are open to grow in this direction.
- You have delivered (scientific) project reports.
- Knowledge of programming language is desirable (e.g. LabVIEW, Matlab, Python).
- You are familiar with the Microsoft Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
- Knowledge of drawing software (e.g. CAD) is desirable.
- You speak and write English fluently, Dutch is a strong plus (alternatively you will learn the language within the coming 3 years).
- You are open for research and see potential in evolving over time into a PhD research position, related to the operational use of the wind generation system.
Competences
- You have the planning skills to manage laboratory and system design activities.
- You have strong independent working skills and take ownership of your projects.
- You are a responsible and skillful manager of longer duration design processes.
- You strive for a professional work environment in which excellent results are produced.
- You endorse learning and constant development as part of your job.
- You are motivated by a dynamic and flexible research environment.
Admission requirements:
- You hold a Master’s degree in an engineering field (see above); and you submit a transcript of your degree.
- You provide evidence for the required knowledge, experience and competencies.
- You apply online through the application tool by the application deadline and you submit all the required documents by the application deadline.
- The admission requirements need to be fulfilled by the application deadline.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- We offer you a contract of definite duration for 2 years.
- Your contract will start on 1/10/2026 .
- Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale WM1 to WM4 for holders of a Masters degree. Click here for more information about our salary scales.
- All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, a bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits (in Dutch).
INTERESTED?
Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.
Your application must include the following documents:
In the field ‘CV’: your CV and an overview of your study results (merged into one pdf file)
In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter in pdf format
In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
In the optional field “other documents”: a reference letter, an overview of your study results, a description of reference projects or a list of publications can be added.
Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.
As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Peter Troch ([email protected]), head of COB Management Committee, or Prof. Maximilian Streicher ([email protected]), director of the COB.
Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via [email protected].
