Assistant Professor in Computer Science with Focus on Verification and Validation of Large-Scale Autonomous Systems Part-time

Assistant Professor in Computer Science with Focus on Verification and Validation of Large-Scale Autonomous Systems

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world's top universities. The University has around 46,000 students and 8,500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

The assistant professor will be working at the Department of Computer Science, in the Software Engineering (SE) division, headed by division head Emelie Engström. SE comprises around 15 people: two professors, two associate professors/senior lecturers, additional lecturers and adjunct staff (some part-time, with ties to industry), one assistant professor and six doctoral students. The division is based in the E-building on LTH's campus in Lund. As the new assistant professor, you will be the division's second assistant professor, working closely with both senior researchers and the doctoral students, tasked with building up and leading the new research track on verification, validation and quality assurance of autonomous systems.

SE's research builds on decades of empirical studies of large-scale software development, requirements, testing and quality assurance at industrial scale, with contributions from, among others, Per Runeson, Björn Regnell, Emelie Engström, Elizabeth Bjarnason and Markus Borg. In recent years, this has, among other things, been directed towards autonomous and safety-critical systems. A current example is VerSACE, a Vinnova FFI project (2025–2028) in which Lund University participates together with, among others, Chalmers, KTH and several leading players in the automotive industry and automotive software, on how frequent software updates in self-driving vehicles can be continuously tested, verified and safety-monitored. Supported by the group's established funding channels through the strategic research area ELLIIT and WASP (Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program), as well as through the network around the NextG2Com competence centre (theme “Software Platforms and Continuous Engineering”, led by Emma Söderberg in the SDE division and Emelie Engström), there are good prospects for the position to grow into a more long-term research track, with good opportunities for new collaborations.

Assistant professors in SE receive ongoing support in their development towards promotion to senior lecturer. The group holds regular seminars and meetings where research is presented and discussed in a friendly and generous spirit, and members collaborate extensively, both among themselves and with colleagues in other parts of the department. As an assistant professor, we welcome you taking your own initiative for new collaborations, both within and outside the department, and building up your own research direction within this track over time.

Subject

Computer Science with Focus on Verification and Validation of Large-Scale Autonomous Systems

Subject description

The position focuses on methods, tools and studies (empirical as well as analytical and design-oriented) for the verification, validation, quality assurance and certification of large-scale, industrial autonomous systems with AI and ML components, for example autonomous vehicles, robotics in industrial operation, and other deployed cyber-physical systems, as well as autonomous systems with no physical counterpart, for example AI agents and automated decision-support systems, seen from a systems perspective. The subject area includes, among other things:

• Scenario-based and simulation-based testing of autonomous systems.
• Statistical and data-driven verification under uncertainty and non-determinism.
• Model-based systems engineering and architecture for autonomous systems.
• Safety argumentation and assurance cases.
• Regulatory compliance and requirements management related to, for example, the EU AI Act and relevant safety standards.

What these approaches have in common is that they address the behaviour of the whole system in its operational context, including its interaction with the environment, rather than the formal verification of individual ML models or components. The subject thus complements related, more component-level/mathematically oriented ML verification research at LTH, and builds on SE's expertise in empirical and applied software and systems engineering, as well as the department's established collaborations within, among others, NextG2Com, ELLIIT, WASP and the profile area AI and Digitalisation.

Work duties

Employment as an assistant professor is a tenure track position, which aims for the holder to develop their independence as a researcher and educator. The work duties mainly involve research and teaching. The position includes the opportunity to undertake five weeks of training in teaching and learning in higher education.

Work duties include:

• Research within the subject area.
• Teaching in the first, second and third cycles of studies.
• Supervision of degree projects and doctoral students.
• Actively seeking external research funding.
• Collaboration with industry and wider society.
• Administration related to the work duties listed above.

Qualification requirements

Qualification requirements for employment as an assistant professor are fulfilled by someone who has been awarded a doctorate or has the corresponding research competence.

Primary consideration should be given to someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent competence within seven years of the deadline for application for employment as an assistant professor. However, someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are special grounds.

Assessment criteria

For appointment to assistant professor, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and carry out high quality research.
• Teaching ability.

Additional requirements

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Significant documented research experience (e.g. from postdoc or doctoral studies) from another university/institute or relevant experience from industry/public sector.
• Documented research competence in verification, validation, quality assurance and/or certification of autonomous and/or AI-based systems, or a related area.
• Documented proficiency in using empirical, analytical, and/or design science methods, as well as the ability to collaborate and work across methodological and knowledge domains.
• Documented research that is applied to, or grounded in, real, large-scale industrial systems and problems, rather than purely theoretical research lacking such application or grounding.
• Ability to contribute to a good, inclusive and respectful research and working environment.
• Collaborative skills, initiative and the ability to solve work tasks independently, as well as a demonstrated interest in leadership.

Other qualifications

• Ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary and international research environments.
• Ability to establish and develop collaborations, for example with industry, other universities and institutes.
• Significant documented research experience (e.g. from postdoc or doctoral studies) from another university/institute or relevant experience from industry/public sector.

The extent to which the applicant, through their experience and skills, may complement and strengthen ongoing research, undergraduate education, departmental innovation, and how they can contribute to the future development of the department will also be taken into consideration.

Terms of employment

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of 6 years. The employment is regulated in accordance with Chapter 4 Section 12a§ HEA. The purpose of the appointment is for the teacher to be given the opportunity to develop research autonomy and acquire the scholarly and teaching qualifications required for eligibility for appointment as a senior lecturer.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English. Please draw up the application in accordance with LTH's Academic qualifications portfolio – see link below. Upload the application as PDF-files in the recruitment system.

We welcome your application!