Technical Project Manager

who will take charge of the management of the LiMeS-lab development project, in consultation with the scientific project leader of LiMeS-lab.

The main tasks of the LiMeS-lab technical project manager will be:

• To finalize the definition phase of the project.
• To manage the engineering design and realization of the LiMeS-lab facility devices.
• To set clear goals and deadlines within the available resources and make sure the project team functions effectively
• To manage the resources of the LiMeS-lab project, both human and financial.
• To provide input for progress and status reports to the main project stakeholders, including the project Steering Group, the DIFFER Management Team and NWO.

We are looking for a project manager with a bachelor’s degree (HBO or higher) preferably in engineering, or a proven track record in project management in engineering projects. For a successful job performance, excellent communication skills in Dutch and English, and a pro-active attitude will be essential.

This position is for 1 FTE, will be for a period of 3 years, until the end of the anticipated completion of the realization phase of LiMeS-lab, and is graded in pay scale 10 or 11 (up to a maximum of € 6.002,- gross/month), depending on educational level and experience. The position will be based at DIFFER (www.differ.nl) and the working location will be at TU Eindhoven. When fulfilling a position at DIFFER, you will have an employee status at NWO. You can participate in all the employee benefits NWO offers. We have a number of regulations that support employees in finding a good work-life balance. At DIFFER we believe that a workforce diverse in gender, age and cultural background is key to performing excellent research. We therefore strongly encourage everyone to apply. More information on working at NWO can be found at the NWO website (https://www.nwo-i.nl/en/working-at-nwo-i/jobsatnwoi/)

The Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) performs leading fundamental research on materials, processes, and systems for a global sustainable energy infrastructure. We work in close partnership with (inter)national academia and industry. Our user facilities are open to industry and university researchers. As an institute of the Dutch Research Council (NWO) DIFFER plays a key role in fundamental research for the energy transition.

We use a multidisciplinary approach applicable on two key areas, solar fuels for the conversion and storage of renewable energy and nuclear fusion – as a clean source of energy.

LiMeS-lab
Nuclear fusion can deliver practically unlimited, clean, safe and large-scale electricity production. However, constructing a fusion reactor is scientifically and technologically complex. A great challenge is formed by the heat load to the reactor wall, so severe that many materials would melt or evaporate. The application of refractory metal (e.g. tungsten) wall components that incorporate flowing liquid metal (e.g tin or lithium) layers, presents a promising new way forward. To explore and qualify this new technology for deployment in large scale fusion devices, a dedicated and globally unique laboratory will be created at DIFFER. This new laboratory for the development of Liquid-Metal Shield technologies for fusion reactors, a.k.a. LiMeS-lab, will be realized in a five year project which has started in January 2022, and is financed via a NWO Large investment grant.