EngD position in Developing an Open-Source Design Data Infrastructure

Do you want to work on the future of designing with data? Do you want to change how designers and design teams are supported in data-enabled prototyping and integrate AI in their making practices? Are you interested in open-source design tools and local AI?

Position: Engineering Doctorate (EngD)

Irène Curie Fellowship: No

Department(s): Industrial Design

FTE: 1,0

Date off: 22/09/2024

Reference number: V51.7668

Job description

The Department of Industrial Design of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), in cooperation with TU Delft, UTwente, and SURF is offering a fully funded 2-year position to master graduates leading to the award of an EngD (Engineering Doctorate) degree in Designing Human-System Interaction.

The challenge

Eindhoven University of Technology's Industrial Design department developed and implemented Data Foundry, a platform to address these challenges. Data Foundry enables the collection and management of data from remote devices in real-time and supports qualitative data collection, participant management, and data visualization. Data Foundry is also increasingly used to prototype in design using data, server-side scripting and AI. Despite successfully supporting over 2000 design projects, Data Foundry is currently limited to Eindhoven University of Technology due privacy and data sharing protocols. We want to change that and use Data Foundry in collaborative contexts and make Data Foundry available to others design institutions.

This is why we will open-source Data Foundry and we need your help for that. The project 'ODeDaI' aims to enhance Data Foundry's configurability and extend its documentation, allowing seamless integration with other universities and institutions. This will enable broader adoption of the platform, ensuring compliance with diverse data sharing policies and promoting open science practices within the design community and beyond. By making Data Foundry adaptable for various institutions and policies, we intend to foster greater collaboration amongst researchers, educational institutions, and industry professionals, both nationally and internationally.

You are part of a learning community

You will be strongly embedded in and work closely with a highly dynamic community with experts from different disciplines including designers, researchers, engineers, education specialists and businesses:

• You will work as a member of the Data Foundry team and the project consortium with engineers, educators and designers at different institutes in the Netherlands.
• You will immerse yourself in open-source software development and design, run workshops in different education contexts and work closely with the various stakeholders of the ODeDaI project.
• The EngD program offers a personalized learning experience through a mix of courses, coaching and hands-on learning by doing.
• You will be surrounded by a team of fellow EngDs and PhDs that focus on data-enabled design and more generally new tools and infrastructures for Industrial Design.

The EngD position

As a designer and creative technologist you dive deep into understanding the needs and workflows of data x design, both in education and research practice. You work with the Data Foundry infrastructure and prepare it inside-out for an open-source release in 2025. You work as part of the Data Foundry team and realize ideas for new features, documentation and helpful education materials. You build and work with growing community to collect user feedback, early and often.

Requirements

• A Masters degree in an industrial design or creative software development related discipline (e.g., Industrial Design with technical focus, Computer Science or Software Engineering with design affinity). Masters degree needs to be obtained before the prospective starting date of this position: September/ October 2024.

Design creation skills

• Proficient with full-stack integration of different software libraries and adapting them to your needs to build great user experiences (e.g., output of AI algorithms, managing local development environments)
• Knowledge of software designing and architecture, different architectural patterns, data modelling.
• Interest in and understanding of AI, data visualization
• Eye for detail and quality
• Experience with writing technical documentation is a plus.

Soft skills

• Strong collaborator with multi-disciplinary team members and academic design education stakeholders
• Enjoys iterative experimentation with iterations based on user feedback and contextual insights, familiarity with agile methods is a plus
• Curious to know more about the data x design field and in how students develop knowledge and skills for working with data in design
• Can-do attitude and hands-on creative technologist
• An eye for detail and a quality mindset, software testing and release experience is a plus

Job requirements

See above

Conditions of employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an international setting with a close relationship to industry. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for two years.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale TOIO  (€2,618).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• To support you during your EngD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will have free access to a personal development program for EngD trainees.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

Information and application

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow. 

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more?
Please contact the hiring manager dr. M. Funk, m.funk@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HRServices.id@tue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button.
The application should include:

• A cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• A curriculum vitae.
• Copies of relevant BSc and MSc diplomas and grade transcripts.
• The result of an English proficiency test such as IELTS or TOEFL.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible.