MSCA WINDCONNECT Researcher – Power Systems & Wind Integration

About Group functions in DNV are experts on finance and accounting, human resources, communication and sustainability, legal, tax and compliance – providing company-wide support, governance and strategic projects. Group also includes our strategic Research and Development unit, which provides science-based insights and foresight to tackle transformations and challenges across the industries we serve.

We are seeking a highly motivated Researcher for an industrial PhD position to join our Power Systems team in Arnhem. This Industrial PhD position focuses on advancing grid-forming technologies for large-scale offshore wind farms, real-time modelling, and system-level control strategies. The work is carried out in close collaboration with KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden), where the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student. The role involves working at DNV (Arnhem) and regular visits to KTH (Stockholm). This position offers a unique opportunity to conduct impactful research while gaining industrial experience in an international environment at the forefront of the energy transition.

Location: Arnhem, The Netherlands
Unit: Group Research & Development – Power Systems
Position type: Temporary, full-time (4-year Industrial PhD)

Key Responsibilities

• Research & Development (75%)
• Develop and model grid-forming Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for hybrid wind farms.
• Investigate control strategies for coordinating grid-forming and grid-following wind turbines.
• Design farm-level control schemes enabling robust grid-forming capability at the point of common coupling.
• Create dynamic aggregation models for wind turbine generators and storage systems.
• Contribute to developing testing methods and platforms for validating grid-forming capabilities and compliance.
• Reporting & Communication (25%)
• Prepare high-quality research reports, scientific publications, and internal documentation.
• Present findings to internal and external stakeholders, including technical workshops, conferences, and academic committees.

Travel

Regular travel to KTH, Sweden, for academic supervision, collaboration, and research activities. The Early Stage Researcher program also includes secondments abroad and technical trainings at European Universities.

DNV offers a stimulating and supportive working environment built on trust, collaboration, and continuous learning. Consistent with DNV’s global employment practices, employees benefit from:

• International working environment with exposure to global experts and academia.
• Opportunities for personal and professional development across a wide range of technical domains.
• A Scandinavian-influenced culture promoting work–life balance, trust, and empowerment.
• Access to training, internal knowledge networks, and collaboration with world-class researchers.

This role provides the best of both worlds: the depth and rigor of a doctoral program, and the practical impact and innovation culture of industry research.

DNV is an Equal Opportunity Employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to gender, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, cultural background, social group, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age or political opinion. Diversity is fundamental to our culture and we invite you to be part of this diversity.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Engineering, Control Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Strong background in power electronics, control theory, and modelling of power systems.
• High proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Eligible as an Early Stage Researcher (max. 4 years research experience; no prior PhD; mobility rule applies—cannot have lived/worked in the Netherlands for >12 months in the past 3 years).

Preferred Experience

• Experience with renewable energy integration, real-time simulation, digital control, or power system stability studies.
• Competence in modelling tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, PSCAD, RTDS, Python-based modelling).
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research, write technical documentation, and communicate results effectively.

Personal Characteristics

• Analytical thinking and structured problem-solving.
• Curiosity and motivation for high-quality scientific research.
• Open-mindedness and collaborative spirit within interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to work in an industrial environment while balancing academic standards.
• Resilience in navigating the dual academic–industry expectations.

Posting Deadline: 15.02.2026

Security and compliance with statutory requirements in the countries in which we operate is essential for DNV. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates as part of the offer process, in accordance with applicable country-specific laws and practices.