The Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) bundles top-level research and transfer at an international level, thereby creating an interdisciplinary innovation network and an excellent science and technology location.
Together with its renowned partners, the BTU forms the Lausitz Science Network - an alliance of research institutions that together want to further develop the strengths of the science location Cottbus-Senftenberg and increase its visibility.
Through innovative research and new teaching and learning formats, the BTU is shaping the future: with scientific findings and practice-relevant solutions, it is helping to shape the major issues of the future and transformation processes.
In four profile lines - "Energy Transition and Decarbonization," "Health and Life Sciences," "Global Change and Transformation Processes," and "Artificial Intelligence and Sensor Technology" - it combines its strengths in teaching and research across institutes and faculties.
At its locations in Cottbus and Senftenberg, the BTU guarantees its students a challenging education, individual support and the opportunity to learn from and with each other with curiosity and openness.
The BTU stands for an inspiring atmosphere of learning and research in a dialogical, democratic cooperation of all: The diversity of our faculty and students enables innovation and progress.
The Facultyof Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Energy Systems invites applications for a
PROFESSORSHIP (W3) Quality in Product Development (Qualität in der Produktentwicklung) commencing at the earliest opportunity.
The professorship focuses on the multidisciplinary development and quality assurance of complex technical systems.
The emphasis here is on networked, mechatronic and, increasingly, data-driven products and production systems.
Research activities centre on methods for model-based system development, the holistic validation of requirements, and the assessment and optimisation of quality throughout the entire product life cycle.
Key research areas include digital twins and digital shadows for simulation- and data-driven development, closed-loop engineering incorporating field data, AI-supported methods for quality prediction, model-based requirements analysis, and the development of adaptive quality control loops.
Furthermore, topics such as resource efficiency, sustainability in product development, the assessment of carbon footprints, the Digital Product Passport and the circular economy are becoming increasingly relevant.
A particular focus lies on the coordination of different development disciplines, the specification of complex systems and their requirements, and the systematic validation of these requirements.
The professorship aims to explain how existing development methods from various disciplines function and interact, and to enable students to critically examine established working practices.
The aim is to foster systems thinking and to convey the understanding that the quality of a complex system is largely determined by the systematic definition and validation of interactions.
This involves the systematic analysis of the processes and challenges faced by specialised development disciplines, as well as their interactions.
Furthermore, the area of responsibility includes teaching on the strategic and operational use of information technology (IT) to enable and support product development.
This involves analysing the constantly evolving IT landscape and its implications for product development processes.
The post holder is expected to teach about various types of IT systems, their areas of application and the associated data types, as well as their appropriate management and use in product development.
Particular emphasis is placed on the systematic provision of data for all quality management tasks.
Outstanding academic achievements and/or several years’ practical experience in industry are required, ideally with a focus on information technology in product development.
Teaching skills and experience in a higher education setting or in knowledge transfer are also considered an advantage.
We are looking for: ...
a nationally and internationally recognised personality with experience in the fields of quality management in product development using digital models and methods.
Following a relevant, qualified PhD, you have continued to conduct research in an academic or industrial setting and have successfully developed or implemented digital or AI methods for quality assurance in product development.
You have also gained leadership experience through leading a research group or a department in industry.
The professorship should represent the above-mentioned fields in research and teaching at the BTU and will deliver teaching duties on the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in both German and English.
In addition to research and teaching, we expect you to be actively involved in the management of the institute and the faculty, as well as in university and non-university committees.
Participation in regional and national networks is also expected.
Profile As a future professor, you can provide evidence of the following requirements in accordance with § 43 Para.
1 No. 1 to 4a Brandenburg Higher Education Act (BbgHG): • a completed university degree in an engineering discipli, • pedagogical aptitude, • a special aptitude for academic work, as a rule through the outstanding quality of a doctorate, and • a habilitation or additional academic achievements as an equivalent.
In addition, you have experience in the acquisition of third-party funding and in the implementation of third-party funded projects, whereby experience with DFG or EU projects is particularly desirable.
Your teaching experience enables excellent teaching for the subject area to be filled here.
You have the ability to teach at all curricular levels from bachelor's to doctorate, to supervise theses and to support young academics.
Your knowledge and experience enable you to participate in academic self-administration and in raising the profile of the faculty.
We offer • fair and transparent appointment negotiations, • attractive working conditions in a city with high quality of life and in relative proximity to Berlin, Dresden, and Leipzig, • a dynamically developing research location, • support in relocation to the immediate vicinity of your place of employment, • comprehensive advice in the dual-career service and in the area of family orientation, and • an attractive salary with a negotiable appointment benefit.
Other duties result from the requirements set by § 44 BbgHG in conjunction with § 3 BbgHG.
Please refer to §§ 43 Para.
1 – 4a and 45 BbgHG for prerequisites and conditions of employment.
BTU is committed to equal opportunities and diversity and strives for a balanced gender ratio in all employee groups and gives priority to persons with severe disabilities or persons with equivalent qualifications.
Information on appointment management including the legal basis can be found at: Please send your application with proof of qualifications, a tabular presentation of your professional career, a list of publications including the 5 most important ones, proof of pedagogical aptitude as well as a research and teaching concept for the advertised professorship by e-mail - mentioning the Reference-No: 176/26 - in a summarised PDF file (max. 7 MB) until 2026-12-16 to: E-Mail: Dekan der Fakultät Maschinenbau, Elektro- und Energiesysteme Postal Address: BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Postfach 101344, 03013 Cottbus When sending your application by unencrypted e-mail, please be aware of the risks regarding the confidentiality and integrity of your application content and please also note the data protection information on the BTU website.
For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Konrad Wälder (Tel.
+49 (0)355 / 69 3945 / email: ).