Where are our biggest stars? Not in the sky but here at DLR
You are very well educated and highly motivated to really make a difference – let’s be honest – you deserve an excellent employer!
An employer who
offers you assignments that match your skills
gives you the opportunity to implement your ideas
is committed to securing a liveable and sustainable future
supports you professionally and personally
gives you responsibility early on
provides you with high-quality equipment and infrastructure
recognises your accomplishments.
offers you an encouraging and inspiring working environment
offers you opportunities for advancement or professional development
You guessed right – DLR offers it all. And there’s much more.
Home office and remote working?
Yes. Depending on the job, you can work remotely up to 80 percent of your working time.
International applicants?
Of course. As an open and internationally orientated research institution, we welcome all applicants. Simply check the required and desired qualifications of the job advertisement and apply.
VIDEO: Living science – DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics
"For me it is crazy"
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"For me it is crazy"
VIDEO: Living science – DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics
large-scale research facilities are available for research at DLR. And the largest civilian research fleet in Europe.
One of the world’s leading research organisations – thanks to professionals like you!
A unique technological infrastructure
Depending on the project and activity, we have at your disposal:
high-performance hardware and software
test stands
laboratories
simulators
research vehicles
coffee machines …
At DLR, you can expect an exciting mission at the cutting edge of science. We conduct research from the fundamentals to applications in order to discover, shape and implement visionary ideas.
A good example is Matthias Schott, who joined the DLR Programme Management Agency for Aeronautics Research in 2021 as an aerospace engineer. In the Whole System Technologies Department, he is responsible for the scientific and technical supervision of research projects relating to aircraft systems. The project results serve to make aviation more climate-friendly, efficient and safe.
And what do you have to bring?
To work at DLR, you need team spirit, a sharp mind, a fascination for research and technology, perseverance and the ambition to help shape the future. We will support, encourage and motivate you so that you can implement your ideas and achieve your ambitious goals.
And these results, including inspection visits, are always highlights of Matthias’ work. The professional exchange and the varied tasks help him to constantly expand his expertise. At DLR, Matthias is encouraged and challenged – and he clearly feels at home: “The working conditions at DLR are great and, above all, very family-friendly.”
Whether you are fresh out of university or training or if you have many years of professional experience, you are important.
A postdoc?
Are you interested in working on research projects for a limited period of time? DLR also offers postdoc positions.
With us, you’ll hit the ground running with your first tasks and responsibilities in your area of expertise. Of course, we won’t leave you on your own. You will get to know the site and your institute or facility, find out who your key contacts are, be introduced to your field of work by your experienced colleagues and benefit from support programmes.
You need to bring:
the necessary expertise, pioneering spirit and, ideally, internship experience
We do not have a trainee programme. You will work directly on our (scientific) projects.
We are delighted that you are interested in working with us. Take a look at our vacancies now or send us a speculative application.
Your welcome
Onboarding with introductory event and site tour
Guidance from an experienced colleague
Access to all important information and training on our extensive intranet
That depends on the research area or the project you are working on. DLR is very well networked in the international research community and promotes international and interdisciplinary exchange – for example, by enabling our researchers to participate in international conferences.
Experienced professionals
You already have experience and want to use your expertise to help shape a future worth living in. Or create the basis or framework for this with your expertise. Wonderful! Welcome to DLR.
You need to bring:
professional experience, expertise and a pioneering spirit
DLR is the right place for you: We work on groundbreaking topics and pioneering technologies on Earth, in the air and in space. Would you like to break new ground with us?
Here, you will start with important assignments and we will welcome you on board. You will get to know the site and your institute or facility, find out who your important contact persons are and be introduced to your field of work by your experienced colleagues.
We are delighted that you are interested in working for us. Take a look at our vacancies now or send us a speculative application!
Your welcome
Onboarding with introductory event and site tour
Guidance from an experienced colleague
Access to all important information and training on our extensive intranet
Early assignment of tasks and responsibility
Looking for a career change?
Yes, that’s possible! Every year we advertise a large number of vacancies with very different specialisations and requirements. Please check which job postings might match your profile.
Off to the land of inventors – off to Germany. Enrich your scientific career and join us in addressing the key issues of our time. If you have a pioneering spirit in engineering or natural sciences, you’ve come to the right place – whether as a graduate/master’s student, doctoral candidate, postdoc or senior scientist. With a stay abroad as a guest researcher at DLR, you will advance yourself, your research and also us at DLR.
DLR supports research visits by scientists from all over the world in the DLR research fields of aeronautics, space, energy, transport, security and digitalisation.
Twelve reasons to join DLR
DLR Welcome Package to get you started
Professional onboarding
Introductory event and site tour
Multiple international and interdisciplinary teams
Many English-speaking colleagues
First-class technological infrastructure
Personal mentor available to advise you at the institute
Extensive experience in Germany as a centre of innovation
High quality of life with very good healthcare, a stable economic situation and a moderate climate
Support for your research project
Collaboration on the major challenges faced by humankind
With a DLR-DAAD scholarship – organisation of travel and on-site support by the DAAD and the institute
DLR-DAAD scholarship programme
If your application is successful, our institutes and facilities will support your stay with a DLR-DAAD scholarship – in cooperation with the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst; DAAD). The DLR-DAAD Research Fellowships Programme enables excellent aspiring or experienced international scientists to spend a period of time researching at one of our institutes or facilities as a graduate/master’s student, doctoral candidate, postdoc or senior scientist..
~ 600
international guest scientists from all over the world conducted research at DLR in 2022
Daniel Carcereri came to DLR in Germany as a DLR DAAD scholarship holder to prepare his doctoral thesis at the DLR Microwaves and Radar Institute. “I immediately found DLR to be a stimulating environment in which I could satisfy my curiosity,” he reports, and also praises the friendly welcome from his colleagues, the diverse scientific exchange and the recreational value of the surrounding environment. His research aims to use AI to develop new strategies for remote sensing of forests by satellite and to comprehensively visualise the condition of the forest.
On the DAAD website you will find the current calls for applications for scholarships from our institutes. Detailed information on the content and subject requirements can be found in the individual calls for applications. You will also find all the information you need for a successful application.
The DAAD will support you together with the DLR institute on site and will also take care of your journey to Germany – so that your research stay at DLR is a success.
Ready to go? Apply here.
Duration of assignment
This depends on your academic qualifications and your goals at DLR:
Graduate/Master’s student: six to nine months
Doctoral candidate: three to four years
Postdoc: six to 24 months
Senior Scientist: several weeks to six months
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
As part of Horizon Europe, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) are the European Union’s flagship funding programme for the scientific training of doctoral students and postdocs.
DLR also regularly offers positions under this funding programme for one- to three-year research stays. You can find these under our job advertisements or together with further information on the MSCA programme at:
Guest research stay without a scholarship
You can also advance your research at DLR without a scholarship – as a Master’s student, doctoral candidate or senior scientist with various funding models.
Your options
Apply for our current vacancies
Send speculative applications to our institutes and facilities. Are there any former DLR guest scientists in your network who can recommend you? Let us know.
Find out from your university, institute or organisation whether there are already collaborations or scientist exchanges with DLR
