The Royal Military Academy of Belgium (RMA) is a military institution of university education responsible for the basic academic, military and physical training of future officers, and for the continued advanced training of officers during their active career in the Defense department ( www.rma.ac.be ). RMA is also conducting scientific research at university level for projects funded by Defense or by external sources.

In the framework of a research project focusing on the development and characterization of heat and electricity production in a BE Defense Base and in a Compound abroad conducted in collaboration with an academic partner, we are looking for a research scientist / engineer with a MSc degree.

Study

The main objective of this project is to realize an installation that produces hydrogen which can be used - as an energy carrier in time and space - for heating and production of electricity in order to maximize the energy independency in both a building in a BE Defense base and in a compound in Southern Europe. Both options will be taken into account due to different climatological conditions and therefore distinct designs of the production panels. After an analysis, the production panels will be integrated. Furthermore, the installation functions as a modular unit, capable of providing limited energy and heat for the buildingCollecting data including validation of the predicted hydrogen yields versus the real-life long-term operation will be followed by the evaluation and the adjustment of parameters.

This project combines the know-how of Leuven University and Defence (Royal Military Academy, Directorate General Material Resources and Defence Laboratories). The results of this project can lead to a lower dependence on imports of energy products; it can increase the durability of defence capabilities and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.

The successful candidate will be, in cooperation with his/her colleagues and partners, responsible for the handling, storage and consumption of all the hydrogen that is produced on site. He/she has to gain knowledge of and/or experience in the following main areas:

• Developing an understanding regarding the theoretical and practical possibilities of hydrogen storage
• developing the processes to address the transformation of hydrogen in the different final energy forms,
• gaining experience with relevant computer codes e.g. those for electricity production by fuel cells, or electricity storage by electrolysis with different hydrogen storage strategies in between.
• Gaining theoretical knowledge of the techniques used in the production of heat and energy through hydrogen.

For your role as project coordinator, you will mainly operate from the Defence Laboratories (B-1800 Vilvoorde). The locations where the experimental work will be carried out are as follows: Campus Saffraanberg (B-3800 Sint-Truiden) and Royal Military Academy (B-1000 Brussels)). Occasional travels abroad have to be taken into account because some work will be carried out in a compound in Southern Europe.

Main Tasks

The successful candidate will:

• Oversee the implementation of the modular facility at the compound in BE and abroad.
• Performing a managing role to ensure optimal communication between the different project partners.
• In collaboration with the different partners, will identify and implement hydrogen storage facilities
• Write scientific reports, reviews and summaries.
• Monitor, record and analyze results.
• Ensure the strict respect of quality and safety rules.
• Perform correctly and in a timely manner the different missions and tasks in collaboration with the different partners of the project.

The successful candidate will be integrated in the POL Laboratory of Defence Laboratories.

Skills / Qualifications:

Required:

The applicant shall have:

• The applicant shall have a MSc degree or Ir degree
• Practical background in sustainable energy systems, energy collection and conversion systems is an added value.

Personal skills:

• Ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary research team;
• Proactive behaviour and commitment;
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Good coordinating skills

Other skills/Assets:

• French/Dutch bilingualism is an asset, as the project will take place in different locations: Campus Saffraanberg (B-3800 Sint-Truiden), Royal Military Academy (B-1000 Brussels), and Defence Laboratories (B-1800 Vilvoorde).
• Good command of the English language (speaking, writing and reading);
• Good command of Microsoft Office tools.

Specific requirements:

The successful candidate has to be committed to confidentiality and exclusivity 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 Defence.

Contract

• Probable date of recruitment : as soon as possible, to be agreed with the applicant.
• Contract: a long-term, full-time contract with the Patrimony of the Royal Military Academy (you will not be a civil servant). The financing of this contract is tied to the MSP/21-06 project, which lasts 4 years.
• Wage scale: class A1 (holders of a Master's degree in Science) / class A2 (Ir or holders of a Master's degree in Engineering).
• 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);
• Bicycle allowance / Free public transport (home-work commute);
• 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;
• Holidays:
• 26 days holiday / year from the 1st year of contract (then from 45 years: +1 day holiday every 5 years)
• + 3 extra days-off / year of ¿service dispensation¿ offered by the department
• + 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 of benefiting from the nursery funded by Belgian Defence (subject to availability).

Workplaces

• Main workplace: Defence Laboratories (DLD): Quartier Major Maj Housiau, Martelarenstraat 181, B-1800 Vilvoorde (Peutie).
• Other workplaces :
• Campus Saffraanberg : Luikersteenweg 371, B-3800 Sint-Truiden
• Royal Military Academy Department of Physics - Laboratory for Plasma Physics : Hobbemastraat 8, B-1000 Brussels
• Occasional travels abroad (Europe) and meetings at partner's premises.

Application:

You will be working in a military environment. For this reason, you will be subject to a security screening.

Please add to your job application a duly completed copy of the following security screening document that you can download from the web-site of RMA (currently available only in Dutch or French):

http://www.rma.ac.be/nl/aanvraag-veiligheidsverificatie

Applicants shall send:

• a motivation letter (indicating also the date when the applicant could be able to start);
• a complete CV;
• a scan of their ID card (both sides) or passport;
• a completed and signed copy of the security-screening document, mentioned above.

Please send your job application by e-mail to Ruben MUYLLAERT (Ruben.Muyllaert@mil.be) and to RSWO (erm-deao-rswo@mil.be).

Please mention clearly the reference of the project « MSP/21-06 ».

Application deadline: August 1st, 2022.

A first pre-selection will be conducted based on the received documents. Preselected applicants meeting the requirements will be invited to an interview (+/- 30min) in the Defence Laboratories (Kw Maj Housiau, Martelarenstraat 181, 1800 Vilvoorde (Peutie), building B13).