Technical Project Manager Industry 4.0

With a team of researchers you set up pioneering industry 4.0-innovations for production companies.

The vision of Flanders Make is to induce a digital transformation in the Make industry resulting in an increasing international competitiveness. In order to realize this transformation the focus is on following trends: smart, interconnected products & production systems, customized products at the price of serial production, agile, human centred manufacturing organisations and sustainable products & production systems. Technological evolutions in the framework of Industry 4.0 such as AI in combination with domain knowledge, digital twins, digital work instructions … , will be key to support this transition.

A wide variety of projects is defined to cover these transforming trends. Secondly, Flanders Make’s ambition is to bridge the gap between basic research done at university and the actual need for new technologies in industry. In order to cover this bridge, several project types are defined from technology readiness levels (TRL) 2 up till 7. A technical project manager at Flanders Make plays a crucial role in this ambition. You will translate the needs from partners into projects. You will ensure excellence in the project execution resulting in an up-take by the Make industry.

“In research, you have the time and the opportunity to let your project team play with their ideas. Together you can search for what might work. I used to work as a technical expert, but then you go deeper and deeper into the content. Now, as a technical project manager, I am busy with several things at the same time. That variety is refreshing.” (Diana, Technical project manager since 2019)

Take the technical lead of innovative projects and ensure industrial relevance

As a Technical Project Manager, you steer the execution of industry-driven technology research projects. Your project team is composed with experts from different backgrounds, technical domains & different sites.

You will:

Take the technical lead and encourage researchers to look for new solutions.
Build a collective ambition for your projects with all stakeholders, i.e. the relevant user groups (Automotive and Machine Building Companies) and knowledge partners (Research Labs at Partner Universities);
Strive for an excellent execution and lead the project team;
Ensure that project results are both industrially relevant and scientifically excellent.

In infrastructure projects, your team also builds research infrastructure.

A variety of topics can be combined throughout the years.

Your first challenge

Together with a software engineering team, you will work on pushing the State of the Art and supporting technologies to implement “digital product passports” (DPP) within “Manufacturing as a Service” (MaaS) networks.

You will use your expertise to set up formal data models and develop prototype software;
You will provide technical guidance to the team and monitor the industrial feasibility of the innovative solutions;
- DPP will enable products to be tagged, identified and linked to data relevant to their circularity and sustainability. According to the European Commission, DPPs will become the norm for all products falling under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products regulation. Such clear, structured and accessible product information will enable companies to make more complex choices and improve communication between actors in value chains.
In addition, you will manage a network of stakeholders, both nationally and internationally, in various groundbreaking projects in this field.

Profile

You have:

At least 5 to 10 years of experience with software development in an academic or industrial context;
Teaming skills & coaching skills for researchers;
Project management skills;
A constructive and open management style (empathic and assertive communication);
A PhD or Master’s degree in a relevant technical domain.

At Flanders Make

Our mission is to induce a digital transformation in the Make industry resulting in an increasing international competitiveness. In order to realize this transformation the focus is on following trends: smart, interconnected products & production systems, customized products at the price of serial production, agile, human centred manufacturing organisations and sustainable products & production systems. Technological evolutions in the framework of Industry 4.0 such as AI in combination with domain knowledge, digital twins, digital work instructions … , will be key to support this transition.

Apply Now

Location: Leuven, or Kortijk

Interested?