Postdoctoral Research Associate eVTOL Medical Delivery Drones

• Two full time, fixed term roles for 4 years, located at the Darlington Campus
• Join a leading research team developing long-range electrical vertical take-off and landing medical delivery drones
• Base Salary $113,634 - $125,896 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

We are seeking an ambitious and talented Postdoctoral Research Associate/Fellow to undertake applied research related to the design and optimization of fuel-cell-based electric vertical take-off and landing uncrewed aerial systems for medical deliveries.

Reporting to ARC Future Fellow and Professor Dries Verstraete, as Postdoctoral Research Associate in eVTOL medical delivery drones, you will work with a team of PhD students to design, build and flight test a fuel-cell-powered eVTOL drone. You will drive the development of the airframe, test and de-risk the controller, and integrate and optimize the fuel-cell-based propulsion system. You will take a leadership role in generating high quality research output. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to improved health care services for rural and remote regions. As part of the project, you will have opportunities to collaborate closely with academics within the university and with our industry partners.

In this role you will:

• Design, build and flight-test several (scaled) models of the medical delivery drone(s)
• De-risk the flight controller of the eVTOL aircraft
• Optimise the full-scale medical delivery drone for fuel-cell-based propulsion systems
• Integrate and flight test the fuel-cell-powered prototype
• Contribute as a researcher to project report preparation, presentation at internal workshops, and dissemination at top international conferences and journals as well as via internal workshops and presentations.

About you

The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values and are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate who has:

• completed (or near completion) a PhD in a topic related to eVTOL aircraft design, drone flight testing, fuel-cell-based hybrid aircraft propulsion systems, or related fields. Equivalent experience will be considered
• experience in aircraft prototyping, eVTOL aircraft design, and/or (flight) testing
• an ability to coordinate multiple project objectives to meet established targets and deadlines
• the ability to express ideas clearly in writing
• experience in working collaboratively as part of a team
• hands-on experience with fuel cells and uncrewed aerial systems would be an asset.

To keep our community safe, please be aware of our COVID safety precautions which form our conditions of entry for all staff, students and visitors coming to campus.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values include diversity and inclusion and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this commitment through our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Rebecca Astar or Cherie Goodwin at recruitment.sea@sydney.edu.au

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Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Thursday 13 August 2026 11:59 PM