Professorship (W2) in Product, Spatial and Physical Design (100 %) (m/f/d)

Characteristics

• Fixed-term employment contract (initially for two years)
• Full-time
• Fully remote from Germany or abroad (German working hours) or hybrid from Hanover, Munich or Leipzig
• Published on 21.08.2026
• Application deadline: 31.12.2026
• Earliest start date: Q2 2028
• Teaching load of 18 SWS

About us

velpTEC is an education institute focused on innovative technologies, combining experience from business, future studies, and new educational approaches. Through our educational offerings, we support people in strengthening their skills for the future in a practice-oriented way, helping them actively shape their own paths in life – and from 2028 onward, also in higher education.

VTH – University of Applied Sciences in foundation (in Gründung) is a private university of applied sciences currently undergoing the process of state recognition through the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture. Our degree programs are launching in the fields of digital technologies, engineering, and innovation-driven management – with a clear commitment to continuously expanding our portfolio and responding to new developments. We understand teaching as a space for shaping solutions for tomorrow. Our approach is project-based, competency-oriented, and closely interlinked with practice. We are looking for individuals who are eager to break new ground in higher education and want to actively help shape our innovative learning environment.

We are filling a W2-Professorship in Product, Spatial and Physical Design (100 %).

Your responsibilities

• Program development: Contributing to the development of the Bachelor's program in Future Design and Immersive Systems, and assisting in recruiting students
• Masterclasses and expert seminars: Conducting live sessions on product and industrial design, spatial design, physical computing and sustainable design in English
• Student supervision and examination formats: Providing academic guidance, mentoring, and support for project and research work; designing and evaluating portfolio assessments, exams, and bachelor's theses
• Applied research: Conducting practice-oriented research and transfer projects in the areas of product design, spatial and physical design, and sustainable material design – in cooperation with industry and research institutions
• Funding and cooperation: Initiating research collaborations and acquiring third-party funding to strengthen applied research at our university
• Publications and presentations: Publishing research findings in academic journals and at relevant conferences, as well as representing the university at specialist presentations and industry events
• Transfer: Willingness to participate in research-related product developments, founding/start-up ventures, and patent applications
• University development: Contributing to the university's academic self-governance, helping to further develop the range of study programs, and participating in international collaboration

Recruitment and qualification requirements

The recruitment requirements for professors are governed by § 25 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG):

• A completed university degree
• Pedagogical-didactic aptitude confirmed through practical experience
• Special aptitude for in-depth independent scholarly work, generally evidenced by an above-average doctorate in the fields of industrial design, product design, spatial design or related fields
• Special achievements in the application or development of scientific findings and methods over at least five years of professional practice, of which at least three years must have been carried out outside the higher education sector – preferably in product design, industrial design, interior/spatial design, or physical prototyping roles in industry.

In addition, we assume

• The ability and willingness to conduct teaching, research, and transfer activities in English.
• Willingness to develop and further build higher education teaching competencies – particularly in (generative) AI-supported teaching.

In addition, we value

• Innovative spirit in teaching: Motivation to develop and apply new didactic formats in product, spatial and physical design education
• Interdisciplinary openness: Readiness to collaborate with colleagues in applied computing and AI, digital business transformation, and immersive design
• Practice and transfer orientation: Proven experience in industry or research projects related to product, spatial, and physical design
• International perspective: Experience in international contexts or motivation to integrate international product and spatial design perspectives into teaching and research.
• Commitment to institutional development: Willingness to actively shape the foundation and growth of a new university
• Research profile: A visible research focus in product design, spatial design, or sustainable material design
• Knowledge and technology transfer: Understanding research as a bridge between science, industry, and society

What we offer

• The opportunity to shape the development of a new university and its programmes right from its foundation.
• A professorship with a clear focus on teaching, quality assurance, and applied research.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues in applied computing and AI, digital business transformation, and immersive design.
• Modern digital infrastructure and an innovative environment without outdated structures.
• Collaboration with the Center for Higher Education Teaching (Kompetenzzentrum Lehre) at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg on the development of higher education teaching competencies.
• Fully remote from Germany or abroad (German working hours) or hybrid from Hanover, Munich or Leipzig
• Flexible working hours with core working hours – medical appointments, childcare, and other important commitments are no problem
• Fixed salary + performance-based bonus + €100 per month (for full-time employees) towards a company pension plan after 6 months + 15% employer contribution to your own payments + attractive employee discounts
• 1 additional day of paid leave per year for volunteering
• Annual health budget of €600 (for full-time employees) after 6 months + access to more than 13,000 fitness and wellness facilities through EGYM Wellpass
• Regular team events and shared experiences
• Plenty of autonomy, varied responsibilities, and a culture that encourages new ideas and innovation

Application documents and further information

• Please submit your application, together with the required documents, in English via our online portal. You can access the online portal through the "Auf diese Stelle bewerben" button. Unfortunately, we are unable to consider applications submitted by post or email.
• The following application documents are expected; mandatory documents are marked with *:
  • *Cover letter
  • *CV (including an overview of previous employment since your first university degree, providing information on subject-related and application-oriented professional experience relevant to the advertised professorship; supporting documents such as employment references are welcome)
  • *Final certificate from the last general education school attended
  • *Certificates and/or diplomas for academic degrees (e.g., diploma, bachelor's, master's, doctorate)
  • *List of teaching activities
  • *Evidence of pedagogical-didactic aptitude (e.g., certificates for higher education teaching training, evaluation results of courses taught, teaching-related awards or scholarships)
  • *List of research activities
  • *List of publications and, where applicable, presentations
  • If applicable, list of third-party funding acquisitions
  • If applicable, list of international experience and cooperations
• Application documents must be submitted as scans. Please use the upload fields provided in the online portal. For your cover letter, use the "Anschreiben" upload; for your CV, use the "Lebenslauf" upload; and for your employment references, use the "Arbeitszeugnis" upload. For all other documents, please use the "Andere" upload.
• The recognition of foreign educational qualifications requires proof of equivalence. Initial points of contact can be found via the portal www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de or https://zab.kmk.org/de/zeugnisbewertung.
• Equal opportunity and diversity are actively promoted and practiced at VTH – University of Applied Sciences in foundation (in Gründung). This position is explicitly open to people of all genders (m/f/d). Applications from female scientists are expressly welcomed.
• Application costs will not be reimbursed.

In the further course of the appointment procedure, candidates may be asked, upon request, to give a teaching session, outline a research project, and complete at least one interview.

By submitting your application documents, you consent to them being forwarded to the Appointment Committee. Within the appointment procedure, certain persons/committee members have the right to inspect the documents. These include members of the Presidential Board, the Senate, the University Council, and the Appointment Committee, as well as the sponsoring institution (velpTEC GmbH). Furthermore, the Officer for Equality and Diversity, where applicable the Officer for (Severe) Disability, and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture have the right to inspect the application documents. Application documents submitted to VTH – University of Applied Sciences in foundation (in Gründung) are handled in accordance with data protection requirements and are used and stored exclusively for the purposes of the appointment procedure. They will not be passed on to third parties. Upon conclusion of the appointment procedure, the application documents will be destroyed in compliance with the relevant data protection requirements. For any data protection questions, the data protection officers of velpTEC GmbH (datenschutz@velptec.de) are happy to assist you.

Your contacts

For questions regarding employment law, the appointment procedure, or the recruitment requirements, please contact Mr. Kay-Uwe Klaus; for content-related questions about the job posting, please contact Dr. Mattis Hartwig at karriere@velptec.de.