Technician Specialising in Cryogenic Miniature Robotics for Planetary Research

We are seeking a hands-on Robotics Technician to help bring a bio-inspired ice-climbing robot from laboratory prototypes to mission-ready hardware.

Job description

Enceladus, one of Saturn’s icy moons, harbors a subsurface ocean rich in salts and complex organic molecules — one of the most promising environments for extraterrestrial life in our solar system. Access to this ocean is possible only through fractures in kilometers-thick ice where cryogenic geysers erupt.

To enable future exploration of this extreme environment, we are developing a bio-inspired ice-climbing robot that adheres to ice using Peltier-driven local melting and refreezing, forming strong bonds with the ice to allow locomotion. This technology also has powerful Earth-based applications in polar exploration, search-and-rescue, and infrastructure inspection in icy environments.

You will play a central role in building, testing, and refining a novel cryogenic climbing robot designed to operate on vertical and overhanging ice. Working closely with scientists and engineers, you will assemble mechanical and thermal systems, integrate electronics, and conduct adhesion and climbing tests in cold environments.

This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of planetary exploration, robotics, and cryogenic physics.

Job requirements

The ideal candidate has strong hands-on skills in robotics and mechatronic assembly, experience with thermal systems such as Peltier elements, and the ability to work with ice adhesion and cryogenic test setups. They are comfortable with electronics and high-current power systems, mechanical prototyping, and experimental troubleshooting, and can reliably collect and interpret test data while working in cold and extreme environments.

TU Delft

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 combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

Faculty Aerospace Engineering

The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.

When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab—into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.