Mobile working machines (MWM) are critical to industries like construction, mining, and agriculture and key to Europe’s sustainability and productivity goals. To meet rising demands for green, autonomous, and digital solutions, the ENGAGE network brings together top machine manufacturers (Volvo CE, Liebherr, Ponsse, AGCO), tech leaders (Bosch, Bosch Rexroth, Novatron, GIM Robotics), and six leading academic groups across Europe (KIT, TUM, TAU, UMU, AALTO).

Educating Europe’s Future Engineers for the Next Generation of Mobile Working Machines: ENGAGE will train a new generation of engineers through Industrial Doctorates, equipping them with cutting-edge expertise in AI, robotics, and mechanical engineering. Together, we’re building the future of smart, sustainable mobile machinery.

The primary objective of the project is to develop a so-called geofence system and validate it on an autonomous agricultural tractor. This system is intended to reliably prevent the vehicle from unintentionally leaving a predefined area. The project will explore the effort required to implement a geofence solution that meets a specified Agricultural Performance Level (AgPL). It will examine which technical solutions are necessary and which components are already available on the market. The developed geofence systems will be evaluated in terms of feasibility, compliance with the targeted AgPL, and how closely the autonomous vehicle can safely approach the actual boundary—the closer, the better.

From a scientific perspective, the project aims to develop methods for identifying appropriate solutions for different safety levels and application scenarios. Various approaches will be compared with a particular focus on cost-efficiency and user acceptance.

As part of the training component, the doctoral candidate (DC) will gain broad interdisciplinary knowledge at the intersection of machine learning, robotics, functional safety, and relevant machinery directives. In addition, the DC will contribute to the dissemination of project outcomes through digital and social media channels, including the project website, LinkedIn groups, YouTube video channels, and blog contributions. The project is suitable to complete a doctoral thesis.

The Supervisory Team will be Marcus Geimer (KIT) and Fridolin Schuler (AGCO).

We are looking for a talented, creative and highly motivated researcher. Recruited researcher can be of any nationality. Doctoral Candidate must be eligible to be enrolled into Doctoral Program at KIT, which requires proof of a far above-average master’s degree, and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. The candidate must also comply with the respective employers' requirements in Germany.

MSCA Mobility Rule: at the time of recruitment by the host organization the researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of his/her employer (KIT, Germany) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.

At the start of their employment, the applicant must hold a Master of Science (MSc) diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Information Technology or any equivalent course of study.

Proficiency in written/spoken English is mandatory. In certain cases, we may ask for a language certificate.