INDUSTRIAL PHD STUDENT POSITION, FOR NIBE ENERGY SYSTEMS

"Detection and Quantification of Multiple Faults in Residential Heat Pumps”

Would you like to work with one of Sweden's strongest brands and be involved in developing the next generation of NIBE products and smart heat pumps? NIBE AB is now recruiting a talented student with a master degree in science to work as an industrial PhD student on smart heat pumps.

We are now looking for an industrial PhD student, interested in technology and wants to work on developing sustainable climate solutions. The position will be shared in between Sweden and France. At NIBE's head office, you will work in an international environment with a world-class product portfolio that requires both intensive and high-quality product development.

Description of the subject and the position

Decarbonizing the building sector, and in particular the production of heat for the comfort of residents, is a major challenge in the context of the energy transition. In Europe, residential and tertiary buildings respectively account for 28% and 14% of the final energy consumption, while space and water heating are the main consuming uses (80% in the residential sector).

In that context, the EU is setting increasingly ambitious energy and climate targets and is aiming at carbon neutrality for buildings by 2050. In particular REPowerEU plan published in May 2022 aims at accelerating the energy transition, particularly through the electrification of the heating and cooling sectors (for buildings and the industry). To these ends, one of its targets is to reach 50 million installed heat pumps by 2030. Given their performance, heat pumps are indeed a key technology to decarbonize the heating production in buildings. Their share in the residential heating market is increasing at a fast pace.

To secure this rapid deployment, developing “smart” heat pumps is key. Such systems can assess their real-time performance and automatically detect and diagnose operation faults, so that predictive maintenance can be implemented.

To make these smart heat pumps a reality a heat pump manufacturer, an electricity utility company and a technical university specialized in energy efficiency systems have joined forces to propose an industrial postgraduate student position. Based on previous works, the PhD student will explore the real time assessment of residential heat pump operation, facing one major or several simultaneous faults. This work will include theoretical analysis of heat pump operation, detailed modelling using Dymola software and laboratory testing of real systems installed in climatic chambers.

The PhD student will beneficiate from the knowledge and experience of the three partners and be given a unique chance to acquire strong and valuable expertise in control systems, thermodynamics, heat transfer, laboratory testing and modelling.

He/She will be part of the Product Development team, which is a high-tech advanced product development department with around 150 employees in the fields of mechanics, electricity/electronics, cooling technology, lab, control & regulation, audio optimization, etc.

Presentation of the three partners

NIBE AB

NIBE AB is a successful modern company located in Markaryd, Sweden, with a turnover of just over SEK 5 billion/year and almost 1,250 employees. NIBE is one of the market leaders in Europe with a sustainable product range consisting of one of the market's widest programs of heat pumps, water heaters, solar panels, biofuel products, ventilation products, district heating equipment, fireplaces, etc.

NIBE AB started manufacturing heat pumps in 1978 and which is now ranking as the largest heat pump manufacturer of the country.

NIBE AB is part of the publicly listed NIBE Industries AB, which has a turnover of approximately SEK 40 billion and approximately 21,000 employees in more than 30 countries. The NIBE group owns manufacturing facilities in many countries in Europe and North America.

Sustainability and high quality are the main drivers of the group strategy in developing products and services to its customers.

EDF R&D

EDF R&D is part of EDF S.A., French utility and parent company of the worldwide EDF group dedicated to production, transport and sale of electricity. EDF R&D employs 2,000 persons in 9 sites in the world, spread across 10 main departments of research, which main objectives are strengthening the performance of generation assets, inventing the energy systems of tomorrow and decarbonizing the customers’ uses with electricity. One of the EDF R&D sites is located in the Paris suburb “les Renardières” and employs 600 persons distributed in 3 departments of research. One of them is dedicated to energy efficiency in buildings and industrial processes and employs 170 people, mainly engineers specialized in thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanics, electronics and metrology. The Energy Efficiency Department facilities are equipped with 11 testing laboratories and beneficiate from a long experience in leading PhD studies.

Mines Paris – PSL University

Mines Paris is a renowned engineering school and part of the French “Paris Sciences et Lettres” (PSL) University, located in the city Centre of Paris. Mines Paris trains engineers and hosts several research centers, one focusing on energy efficiency of systems. The high-level research centers of Mines Paris attract highly qualified PhD and professors and will serve as the academic supervisor and ensure support at a high scientific level.

General features about the overall organization

The PhD student will be employed by NIBE AB and administratively attached to Mines Paris which will serve as the entity behind the academic examination. Most of the experimental and practical work will be done on the test benches at EDF R&D facilities near Paris. The PhD director will be a professor from Mines Paris and the PhD student will beneficiate from the support of one supervisor from EDF R&D and one supervisor from NIBE AB.

The PhD study is planned for three years. Part of the work, around 50%, will be done at NIBE AB premises in Markaryd. The remaining time will be spent in France, at EDF R&D premises at Les Renardières and at Mines Paris. The exact time share in between the three locations is to be defined as well as its distribution over the 3 years.

Background of the candidate

We are looking for a responsible person with a master degree in science who is passionate about heat pump technology, electricity and compliance. You are creative, independent and not afraid of taking initiatives. You have relevant training, education and/or experience in this area. Good knowledge in English is a requirement and also French is meritorious.

Starting time

The PhD study is to be started on 1^st September 2026.

Applying

We will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and would like to receive your application as soon as possible, but no later than 28 February 2026. Apply via our website www.nibe.eu under "vacancies". If you would like to know more, please contact one of the persons below.

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