Postdoktor i Software Design and Architecture in the era of AI Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden

Blekinge Institute of Technology is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher in Software Design and Architecture in the era of AI within its internationally recognized software engineering environment. The position is based in the Department of Software Engineering in Karlskrona and places the successful candidate in a research culture with a strong emphasis on industry-facing empirical research and collaboration with both industrial and academic partners.

The project focuses on how artificial intelligence is reshaping software engineering from two complementary perspectives: AI4SE, where AI supports engineering work in software development, and SE4AI, where AI components become part of the software system itself. The research agenda centers on software architecture and design challenges created by the introduction of large language models, retrainable machine-learning components, and RAG modules, and on how these elements affect modularity, reuse, deployment, versioning, lifecycle management, and architectural evaluation.

The postdoctoral researcher will also study how AI changes software design principles and patterns, including prompt logic, data transformation flows, and retraining mechanisms, as well as how qualities such as explainability, security, operational robustness, privacy, and accountability can be embedded in AI-intensive components. A further focus is the interaction between architectural decisions and design trade-offs in non-deterministic, data-dependent systems, especially in relation to testability and maintainability.

Another important part of the work is the development and application of architectural evaluation strategies, including simulation-based and pattern-based approaches, evidence, metrics, and tests. The goal is to turn these into guidelines, taxonomies, and assessment frameworks that help compare architectural alternatives and support trustworthy AI integration.

The role is embedded in a research group that works closely with industry, and the postdoctoral researcher is expected to conduct empirical research using qualitative and quantitative methods such as industrial case studies, interviews, surveys, systematic literature studies, and thematic analysis. The position also includes publication of results in leading international conferences and journals, contributing to research that is both academically strong and relevant to software-intensive industry.

Up to 20% of working time may involve teaching and supervision, and active participation in the department’s research and education activities is expected.