Innovation Manager for Research Project in Machine/Vehicle Technology

Function

Together with a team of researchers, you will develop groundbreaking innovations for companies that want to develop the next generation of vehicles, machines, drones, etc. development & production.

The manufacturing industry faces a number of important technological challenges:

• Reducing emissions from vehicles and machinery, e.g. through electrification
• The realization of smart navigation applications for autonomous vehicles (indoor and outdoor);
• Extensive digitization and an abundance of data that can be used for smart control and communication systems;
• The use of artificial intelligence, both for the processing of data (sensors, cameras, etc.) and for making decisions or providing insights.

As an Innovation Manager, you will steer the implementation of industrially relevant technological research projects. The goal is to bring tomorrow's technology closer to innovative companies in the manufacturing industry.

You will:

• Define a collective ambition for your projects in consultation with all stakeholders; these include the relevant industrial user groups and knowledge partners (renowned knowledge institutions and/or research laboratories of partner universities);
• To provide technical management for projects and to encourage researchers to look for new solutions. These are researchers with expertise in electrification, machine learning and AI, perception, modelling and/or control. The challenges here include:
  • New cooling and lubrication techniques for powertrains;
  • Improving and implementing battery technology in vehicles;
  • Predicting the remaining life of a machine and proposing improvement actions;
  • Model-based or predictive control for optimal motion control and/or energy management;
  • Sensor fusion for locating and mapping autonomous vehicles;
  • Static and dynamic world models;
  • Data acquisition & artificial intelligence;
  • Validation of all these developments on infrastructure.
• Strive for excellent project execution;
• Ensure that the project results are both industrially relevant and scientifically excellent;
• Spreading new knowledge on the basis of concrete business cases. Your actions to disseminate knowledge will accelerate the emergence and realization of new innovative prototypes.

Profile

You have:

• At least 5 to 10 years of relevant experience in project management in an industrial or academic environment;
• Proven expertise in technology development and/or transfer;
• A strong link with technology within one of Flanders Make's research domains, for example electrification, detection and control, autonomous mobile systems, artificial intelligence, etc.
• A strong affinity with the vehicle, machine, drone or technology and/or industry, experience in one of these sectors is an asset;
• Fluent in NL/ENG.

Offer

Creative flexible working environment

• Flanders Make offers you the opportunity to develop yourself within its network of leading industrial companies, universities and research institutes;
• An open-minded, flexible and challenging working environment;
• A warm working atmosphere and top colleagues;
• An attractive salary with additional benefits.

Depending on your place of residence or preference, you can mainly work in our offices in Leuven or Lommel (flexible workplace policy).

Testimony

You're at the forefront of new technologies, and that's pretty exciting. We are there when the world changes! It is my job with numerous stakeholders to keep an eye on their needs. When you make an impact by making new connections between your team and the industry, it's both engaging and enjoyable. I enjoy exploring new ideas and tapping into their potential. And finally, let's be honest, working with robots driving around is just cool," says Timothy, Senior Project Leader at Flanders Make since 2021.