About this role
PROJECT You work within the Department of Weapon Systems and Ballistics (ABAL) of the Royal Military Academy, and in close collaboration with the industrial and academic partners of the consortium. You conduct scientific research at university level on a project entitled 'RAPTOR'. RAPTOR addresses the growing defence need created by the proliferation of drones that threaten civil and military security. The project aims to facilitate and accelerate the development of innovative weapon systems, specifically designed to neutralise these mobile air targets efficiently by integrating artificial intelligence in fire control algorithms and target designation. Four objectives structure the work: reducing the time-to-market, reducing the cost, remaining at the state of the art, and guaranteeing the performance of the weapon systems studied. The incumbent will contribute to weapon system performance studies and test campaigns, provide fragmentation modelling that feeds the multi-source data fusion activities, characterise representative C-UAS operational scenarios drawn from the open literature, analyse the vulnerability and the survivability of drone targets, define the fragment patterns that maximise terminal effects, quantify aerodynamic coefficients, study collateral damage risk and contribute to the preparation, execution and exploitation of the experimental firing campaigns. MAIN TASKS Model representative C-UAS operational scenarios on the basis of concrete cases available in the open literature, with a focus on the neutralisation phase. Analyse the vulnerability and the survivability of drone targets component by component, including the determination of critical thresholds and of the number of impacts required to reach a defined level of neutralisation. Perform fragmentation simulations with dedicated software and calibrate the analytical models on experimental results, in order to define the fragment patterns that maximise terminal effects. Contribute to the quantification of the aerodynamic coefficients used by the Point Mass model for fragmentation and by the 6DOF model for the ballistic trajectory. Quantify collateral damage and the associated risk probability, so that the choice of the engagement approach can be balanced against ballistic performance. Contribute to the elaboration of the test application document, participate in the firing campaigns and in the data acquisition, and support the post-processing and the writing of the test reports. Validate the simulations by reproducing the representative scenarios on the test range and by comparing simulated and experimental survivability. Contribute to technical reports, to the deliverables towards the funding authority, and to scientific publications and conferences. SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: Degree(s) required: Master's degree in Engineering (Applied Sciences, Engineering Sciences), preferably in mechanical, aerospace, electromechanical or a closely related discipline. This position is open for junior profiles (ideally 0-3 years of experience) and experienced profiles (ideally 3 years of experience minimum). However, young graduates are also encouraged to apply. ¿MUST HAVE¿ skills Academic experience (projects, master's thesis) or professional experience in the numerical modelling and simulation of mechanical, aerodynamic or ballistic problems. Academic or professional experience in experimental test campaigns and data acquisition. Programming skills. Proficiency in the production of technical and/or scientific documents. ¿NICE TO HAVE¿ skills Training or experience in ballistics, weapon systems or fragmentation modelling. Training or experience with drones, C-UAS systems or weapon systems performance. Training or experience with Split-X and/or Python. Training or experience in artificial intelligence. Personal skills You conduct scientific research in an independent and upright way within a multidisciplinary environment. You communicate your results in a clear, concise and precise manner. You are involved, innovative and result oriented. You solve problems autonomously, take initiative and find alternatives or solutions. You will be working very closely together with the partners and will get insight in their proprietary intellectual property. Confidentiality is therefore an absolute must. Other skills: The applicant shall have good knowledge of English (oral / written). The applicant shall have good knowledge of French (oral / written). Minimum knowledge of Dutch is an added value for collaboration with peers. Experience in scientific literature review and scientific writing is an added value. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS The researcher may be exposed to classified information and will therefore have to obtain the required security clearance. The candidate must consent with the background check required to obtain this clearance, which will be executed by Belgian Defense. Only applicants with a nationality of a country that is both part of NATO and the EU will be eligible. Working for the Patrimony requires living in Belgium for the duration of the study. CONTRACT Probable date of recruitment: From 01/11/2026, in consultation with the applicant. Status: Full-time employment based on an open-ended contract with the Patrimony of the Royal Military Academy (you will not be a civil servant). Wage scale: Salary scale: wage scale NA11 (holder of a Master's degree in Science or equivalent), or NA21 (holder of an Ir degree or equivalent Master's in Engineering Sciences, doctor's degree in the same area of expertise), with valuable / relevant seniority. A salary simulation can be done here: Simulateur de salaire . RMA applies a merit-based research career track, allowing researchers to advance in wage scale based upon annual evaluations. Holiday pay. EXTRA LEGAL BENEFITS Possibility to benefit from a bilingualism allowance (Dutch/French) following a SELOR test; End-of-year bonus; Free DKV hospitalization insurance. Possibility of additional affiliation for one or more persons living under the same roof: spouse, child(ren) (50% of the price per additional member); Bike allowance / Free public transport (home-work commute); Meal vouchers (6€ / day); Digital allowance: 15€ / month; Free access to campus sports facilities outside working hours; On-campus restaurant and cafeteria with democratic prices (discount on the daily menu); Flexible working hours within the 38-hour week; Teleworking possible with allowance (2 days / week max); Holidays: 29 days holiday / year from the 1st year of contract (then from 45 years: +1 day holiday every 5 years) 1 week OFF every year between Christmas and New year's Eve (independent of the annual balance of holidays). Advantages and interesting offers thanks to the Benefits@work card (discounts, vouchers...); Entitlement to services offered by the `Office Central d'Action Sociale et Culturelle de la Défense' (OCASC): among others holiday centres, discount on travel organised by the tour operator...; Possibility to benefit from the nursery funded by Belgian Defence (subject to availability).