Research Engineer Large Slewing Bearings for Wind Turbines

At the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES, the energy transition becomes a reality every day. Our focus topics are: offshore wind energy, hydrogen, test infrastructure and digitization. More than 400 employees – including around 100 students – from over 50 countries work at nine locations in scientific and non-scientific teams on the development of innovative methods to accelerate the expansion of the wind energy and hydrogen economy, minimize risks, and increase cost efficiency. Do you want to join us in shaping a sustainable future?

Be part of change

You will be part of the "Slewing Bearings" group at our site in Hamburg. With the aim of meeting the highest demands on the reliability of wind turbines, colleagues at the Large Bearing Laboratory (LBL) develop and operate small- and large-scale rotor blade bearing test benches to investigate the behavior and service life of large roller bearings, among other things. At present, the team at the site consists of nine employees and several students. We support each other irrespective of our projects and backgrounds. A culture of open exchange and cooperation, even beyond team boundaries and sites, are particularly important to us.

You will participate in the testing procedure on our bearing test benches. In addition, you will develop FE models to simulate the complex behavior of the test benches and the tested bearings, with a focus on scaling methods. Furthermore, you will analyze data from the tests and draw conclusions about the service life of the bearings. Based on the results, you will develop new test methods and concepts as well as calculation and design methodologies. Your area of responsibility will also include tribological investigations and smaller design tasks.

Furthermore, you will participate in a variety of research projects. This includes presenting the results of your work at conferences and publishing them in specialist magazines and journals. As a research engineer, you will also develop new ideas independently and acquire industry partners and research projects.

What you contribute

You have completed your diploma or master’s degree in an Engineering Discipline, e.g., Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics. During your studies, you have developed a sound understanding of the use of simulation and data analysis software (e.g., ANSYS, MATLAB, and Python). Do you also have experience in developing FE models of complex systems? Great!

Perhaps you have also worked on optimization problems, design optimizations for structures and complex components, or the programming of control systems? That would be great, but do not worry if you do not have all those skills just yet, you can get your career off to a flying start with us, too! If you do already have experience, you can expand upon it here. Here at IWES, we operate on an international level, so excellent German and English skills are important for your day-to-day work.

What we offer

We support you on your professional journey. Whether personally, professionally, or methodically, we find the right qualification measures for you. It is also possible to be responsible for your own doctorate here. We offer you our full support! Do you want to immerse yourself in additional fields and work independently to drive new topics forward? With us, you get to shape your range of duties actively!

Our open institute culture as well as mutual tolerance and respect ensure that every person feels comfortable with us from the start. We achieve this, for example, through our onboarding program for new employees as well as by raising awareness of and providing training on diversity and equal opportunity issues. We firmly believe that diversity is key to our success. Join us and experience this for yourself!

Our flextime and core time system allows you to plan your working day flexibly. In addition, you also have the option to work remotely. Not sure who can look after your children in an emergency? We help by offering emergency childcare. Interested in employee discounts for events, clothes, vacations, etc.? With us, you can select from a varied range of offers and easily take advantage of them for yourself via an app. For sustainable mobility, you can also benefit from the Deutschland-Ticket as a job ticket.

The position is limited to 3 years. The weekly working time is 39 hours. This position is also available on a part-time basis, preferably close to full-time. Appointment, remuneration and social security benefits based on the public-sector collective wage agreement (TVöD). Additionally Fraunhofer may grant performance-based variable remuneration components.

We value and promote the diversity of our employees' skills and therefore welcome all applications – regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, disability, sexual orientation and identity. Severely disabled persons are given preference in the event of equal suitability.

Our tasks are diverse and adaptable – for applicants with disabilities, we work together to find solutions that best promote their abilities.

With its focus on developing key technologies that are vital for the future and enabling the commercial utilization of this work by business and industry, Fraunhofer plays a central role in the innovation process. As a pioneer and catalyst for groundbreaking developments and scientific excellence, Fraunhofer helps shape society now and in the future.

Ready for a change? Then apply now and make a difference! Once we have received your online application, you will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt. We will then get back to you as soon as possible and let you know what happens next.

Only online applications via the portal can be considered.
Please note that we observe the provisions of the valid General Data Protection Regulation when processing applications.

Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems

Requisition Number: 85023 Application Deadline: 07/26/2026