PhD Candidate in AI-Assisted Software and Systems Engineering Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway

PhD Candidate in AI-Assisted Software and Systems Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Computer Science, Trondheim, Norway.

This PhD project sits in the Software Engineering group and focuses on how generative AI and AI agents can support software engineering and systems engineering tasks in critical systems and infrastructures. Example application areas mentioned in the post include power distribution systems, railway infrastructure, and flight control systems. The project may be tailored to the successful candidate’s background and interests, while remaining within the broader theme of evaluating AI-assisted solutions for design, development, verification, safety analysis, and related work in complex software-based systems.

The post is a full-time, temporary PhD position. It offers an exciting research environment, participation in the Software Engineering research group, opportunities for international activities such as conferences or research stays, and career support during the doctorate. The salary is normally NOK 580,000 gross per year depending on qualifications and seniority. The appointment lasts 3 years for the doctoral work plus 1 additional year of career-promoting duties.

Applicants must qualify for admission to the Doctoral Programme in Computer Science and hold a relevant Master’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent, including a major independent project of at least 30 ECTS equivalent to a master’s thesis. The university states that Master’s students may apply only if the degree is completed and documented before starting, and no later than 2026-10-30. A strong academic record is expected, normally at least B on NTNU’s grading scale, together with good programming skills and strong English communication skills. Preferred experience includes software/system architecture modelling, agentic frameworks such as LangChain or Microsoft Agent Framework, generative AI, and knowledge of critical systems.

The application must be submitted electronically via Jobbnorge.no. Required attachments include transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, CV, a copy of the Master’s thesis, a project outline (maximum 1500 words / 4 pages), a short motivation letter, scientific publications or other relevant work, and contact information for three references. If your education was completed abroad, additional documentation of scope and quality is required, including a diploma supplement where relevant or an HK-dir statement if available.

Deadline: 2026-10-08 (23:59 Europe/Oslo). Contact person for questions about the position: Associate Professor Leonardo Montecchi ([email protected]).