The Department of Electronic Systems at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design invites applications for a postdoc in the field of antenna design for UAV communications as per August 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is available for a period of 1 year, with the possibility of extension.

In electronic engineering, Aalborg University is known worldwide for its high academic quality and societal impact. The Department of Electronic Systems employs more than 200 people, of which about 90 are PhD students, and about 40% of all employees are internationals. In total, it has more than 600 students in its BSc and MSc programs, which are based on AAU's problem-based learning model. The department leverages its unique research infrastructure and lab facilities to conduct world-leading fundamental and applied research within communication, networks, control systems, AI, sound, cyber security, and robotics. The department plays an active role in transferring inventions and results into applications in close collaboration with industrial partners worldwide. You can read more about the department at www.es.aau.dk.
  
Your work tasks    
You will join the Antennas, Propagation and Millimetre-Wave Systems section and work on the development of advanced antenna architectures that enhance the reliability of the communication link between the drone and the operator.

Your focus will be on replacing conventional omnidirectional antennas with compact, directional, and beam-steerable solutions that increase the signal-to-interference ratio in realistic flight conditions. A central part of the work is the integration of the antennas into the drone platform, so that the proposed architectures respect aerodynamic, weight, and payload constraints while still enabling agile beam steering.

The position spans the full chain from concept to demonstrator. You will design and simulate new antenna configurations, fabricate them, and characterize them in our state-of-the-art anechoic chamber as well as in field trials on flying platforms. You will collaborate closely with our industrial partners Sky-Watch and PRIDANA, aligning the research tasks with their practical constraints and test scenarios.
   
Your competencies   
You have a PhD in wireless communication, electrical engineering, antenna and electromagnetic engineering, telecommunications engineering, microwave engineering, or a closely related field, and you bring a solid understanding of electromagnetic theory, microwave principles, and computational electromagnetics.

You are comfortable working with full-wave simulation techniques such as finite-difference time-domain, finite element, or method of moments, and you use these tools to translate ideas into robust antenna concepts. It is natural for you to work with advanced antenna architectures, for example directional or high-gain solutions, mechanically or electronically beam-steerable configurations, or compact designs that must be integrated into constrained platforms.

You are experienced with modern electromagnetic simulation tools, such as CST Studio Suite or Ansys HFSS, and you use them systematically as part of your design workflow. You also have practical skills in numerical modelling and data analysis using environments like MATLAB or Python, which you apply to tasks such as optimisation, parameter studies, or processing of measurement data.

You enjoy working experimentally with antennas and are familiar with measurement setups in near-field and far-field environments, from calibration and test design to interpretation of the radiation characteristics. As a colleague you are curious and collaborative, and you are motivated by working in a team where industry partners and academic researchers jointly develop solutions that can be tested on real platforms. You communicate your results clearly in writing and presentations, and you are ready to contribute to publications and technical discussions in an international research environment.

Qualification requirements
Appointment as postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level. 

Who we are    
You will become part of the Antennas group at the APMS section at the Department of Electronic Systems in Aalborg East. The Antennas group is an active research environment where fundamental electromagnetic insight and practical engineering go hand in hand. The group is anchored by Professor Gert F. Pedersen and Professor Shuai Zhang, together with Assistant Professor Rocio Rodriguez Cano and a team of researchers and students who work on a broad range of antenna topics. Our group is recognized internationally for high-quality research and for advanced antenna solutions developed for communication systems, ranging from compact integrated designs to complex antenna platforms. You will join an international team with colleagues from many different countries and academic backgrounds, who contribute complementary perspectives to our research.

In our daily work we collaborate closely, exchange ideas, and make extensive use of our laboratory facilities, including a state-of-the-art anechoic chamber for antenna measurements. The project that this postdoc position is part of builds directly on our experience with integrated antenna solutions and our collaboration with industrial partners. You will join a team that values open discussion, joint problem solving, and room for individual initiative, and you will have good opportunities to influence the direction of your work within the overall project framework.

Qualification requirements 
Appointment as postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level. 

How to apply  
Your application must include the following: 

• Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position 
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
• Diplomas (master's degree diploma and PhD diploma) 
• List of publications, with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment. You may attach a maximum of five publications.
• Documentation of teaching qualifications if relevant.
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations etc. 
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position 
• References/recommendations 

You can read more about the requirements for your application here.    

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.  

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position. 

Do you have any questions? 
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.     

Further information 
Read more about our recruitment process here   

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.  

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace. 

Salary and terms of employment  
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish). 

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish). 

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.

Contacts

• Assistant Professor Rocio Rodriguez Cano: rrc@es.aau.dk
• HR Support : Aau-hrsupport@adm.aau.dk

Employment type

Full time

Ref number

2026/838

Deadline

05.07.2026