Masterarbeit "Rapid-Control-Prototyping für Leistungselektronik - RCP-Schnittstelle"

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Masterarbeit "Rapid-Control-Prototyping für Leistungselektronik - RCP-Schnittstelle" Company: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Location: Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Job Type: Master Thesis / Research Assistant (Part-Time) Category: Research & Development / Electrical Engineering Date Posted: February 10, 2026 Experience Level: Entry-Level (0-2 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This Master's thesis focuses on developing a Rapid-Control-Prototyping (RCP) interface for power electronics, crucial for stabilizing the electrical energy supply during the energy transition.
• The role involves hands-on development of both hardware and software interfaces, bridging the gap between simulation and laboratory testing for modular inverter platforms.
• Candidates will gain practical experience in signal processing, calibration, and implementing protection/monitoring functions within a cutting-edge research environment at Fraunhofer ISE.
• This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to sustainable energy solutions and advance the field of decentralized power generation control.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a Master's thesis position, the description implies a strong practical and developmental component, akin to an entry-level R&D or Junior Engineer role within operations. The "Studentische Hilfskraft" designation suggests a part-time engagement, and the "Hybrid" work arrangement indicates a blend of on-site laboratory work and remote flexibility. The core responsibilities align with developing a foundational system for future GTM (Go-to-Market) operations in renewable energy technologies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the hardware and software interface between a modular inverter platform and an RCP system.
• Design and select appropriate current and voltage sensor technology, and implement signal conditioning and calibration procedures.
• Implement fundamental protection and monitoring functions to ensure system safety and reliability.
• Develop and refine the software environment for the RCP system to facilitate rapid testing and validation.
• Conduct initial validation measurements and performance analysis of the developed RCP interface.
• Document all technical specifications, development processes, and experimental results comprehensively.
• Present research findings and project progress to the research team and stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with scientists and researchers to integrate new control methods and test their efficacy.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges related to hardware-software integration and system performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities are heavily focused on the technical development and validation of a research platform. This differs from traditional revenue or sales operations roles but is critical for the foundational technology that will eventually support GTM strategies in renewable energy. The emphasis on "robust, reusable platform" and "closing the gap between simulation and lab" highlights the operational efficiency gains this research aims to achieve.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related technical field.
• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering or science discipline is a prerequisite.

Experience:

• Limited professional experience is expected, typical for a Master's thesis candidate.
• Experience with practical projects, academic research, or internships in relevant fields is beneficial.

Required Skills:

• Strong academic background in core electrical engineering principles.
• Familiarity with microcontroller programming and embedded systems development.
• Ability to learn and adapt quickly to new technologies and research methodologies.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a methodical approach to technical challenges.
• Proficiency in technical documentation and report writing.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a research team.
• Good communication skills in both German and English.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior knowledge or coursework in power electronics.
• Experience with Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) systems or similar real-time simulation platforms.
• Familiarity with sensor integration, signal conditioning, and calibration techniques.
• Experience with hardware-software co-design and interface development.
• Understanding of system stability concepts in electrical grids.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Requirements Summary" indicates a strong preference for candidates with practical programming experience, particularly with microcontrollers. While direct experience in "power electronics" is not mandatory, it is highly advantageous. The emphasis on "teamwork" and "independent work" is standard for research projects and internships.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated ability to document and present complex technical projects, including system architecture, interface design, and implementation details.
• Examples showcasing problem-solving methodologies applied to hardware-software integration challenges.
• Documentation of calibration procedures and validation measurements for electronic systems.
• Evidence of understanding and implementing protection and monitoring functions in electronic designs.
• A conceptual or practical understanding of how research platforms contribute to product development and operational readiness.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to clearly articulate the development process for the RCP interface, from initial concept to validation.
• Documentation of the workflow for selecting and integrating sensors and signal conditioning components.
• Process for testing and calibrating the developed interface and its associated software.
• Documentation of the iterative refinement process for control algorithms and system parameters.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Master's thesis, the "portfolio" will primarily consist of the thesis document itself, project reports, and potentially code repositories. The emphasis here is on the candidate's ability to clearly document the technical process, the system design, and the outcomes of their research, demonstrating a structured approach to problem-solving and system development.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• As a Master's thesis position with a simultaneous contract as a "Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft" (Research Assistant), compensation will be based on the academic degree level achieved.
• For a Master's student in Germany, typical compensation for a Research Assistant role can range from €12-€15 per hour, translating to approximately €960 - €1,200 per month for a standard part-time workload (e.g., 20 hours/week).
• The specific rate will be determined by Fraunhofer ISE based on the candidate's current academic standing and the scope of the research assistant role.

Benefits:

• Exclusive Insight: Gain a deep understanding of R&D processes within a leading research institute.
• Laboratory Infrastructure: Access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at Fraunhofer ISE.
• Research Mix: Opportunity to combine theoretical knowledge from studies with practical, experimental work.
• Supervision: Receive dedicated guidance and feedback from experienced scientists.
• Teamwork: Collaborative environment with scientists, researchers, and fellow students.
• Flexible Working Hours: Adaptable schedule in consultation with the team, accommodating study commitments.
• Hybrid Work Option: Possibility to work remotely on occasion, in addition to on-site laboratory work.
• Equal Opportunities: Commitment to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.
• Social Events: Participation in team and company-wide after-work events and annual celebrations.

Working Hours:

• The role is part-time, typically aligned with the hours of a "Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft," often around 15-20 hours per week.
• Specific working hours are flexible and will be arranged in coordination with the supervising scientist and project needs, allowing for integration with academic study.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is determined by the "Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft" pay scale in Germany, which is tiered by degree level. The provided range is an estimate based on common practices for research assistants at German research institutions for Master's students. The benefits are geared towards academic and research development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Renewable Energy Research & Development (Solar Energy Systems) Company Size: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a large organization with approximately 1,300 employees at the ISE institute alone, and over 29,000 employees across all Fraunhofer institutes in Germany. This scale provides significant resources and opportunities. Founded: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft was founded in 1949. Fraunhofer ISE was founded in 1981. This long history signifies stability, expertise, and a well-established research culture.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "Netzverhalten von dezentralen Generatoren" (Grid Behavior of Decentralized Generators) team.
• This team likely comprises senior scientists, post-doctoral researchers, PhD candidates, and other research assistants working on grid integration and stability for renewable energy sources.
• Collaboration is expected to be cross-functional, involving experts in power electronics, control systems, grid simulation, and energy policy.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: The team heavily relies on experimental data from sophisticated test setups and simulations to understand grid dynamics and control strategies.
• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Development of modular platforms and RCP interfaces aims to streamline the research and development lifecycle, enabling faster iteration and validation of control algorithms.
• Automation & Efficiency: The RCP system itself is a tool for automating the testing of control strategies, significantly improving efficiency compared to traditional methods.

Company Website: www.ise.fraunhofer.de

📝 Enhancement Note: Fraunhofer ISE is a highly respected research institution. The culture is likely collaborative, scientifically rigorous, and focused on innovation and practical application of research for sustainable energy. The size of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft implies a robust support structure and access to diverse expertise.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is an entry-level academic research position, serving as a Master's thesis project. It is foundational, focusing on developing a critical research tool. Reporting Structure: The candidate will report to a supervising scientist or senior researcher within the "Netzverhalten von dezentralen Generatoren" team. This provides direct mentorship and guidance. Operations Impact: While not a direct GTM operations role, the successful development of the RCP platform will significantly impact the efficiency and speed of R&D for new grid-stabilizing technologies. This, in turn, accelerates the deployment of renewable energy solutions, indirectly contributing to the broader "energy transition operations."

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Development: Develop strong skills in embedded systems programming, hardware-software integration, real-time control systems, and data acquisition/analysis.
• Industry Exposure: Gain invaluable experience in the renewable energy sector, working at the forefront of grid integration research.
• Academic Advancement: Successfully complete the Master's thesis, a significant academic milestone.
• Networking: Build connections with leading researchers and potential future employers in the energy sector.
• Potential for Future Roles: A successful thesis project can lead to opportunities for PhD studies or entry-level R&D positions within Fraunhofer ISE or associated industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth here is primarily academic and within the R&D domain. The "operations" aspect is in the context of optimizing the research and development process itself, making it more efficient and effective.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The work involves a combination of lab-based activities and potentially some desk work for software development and documentation. Office Location(s): The primary work location is Fraunhofer ISE's facilities in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Access to a research laboratory equipped with modern testing facilities and equipment for power electronics and control systems.
• Operations Tools & Technology: Exposure to advanced simulation software, real-time control hardware (RCP systems), oscilloscopes, power analyzers, and microcontroller development tools.
• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with scientists and student colleagues, fostering knowledge sharing and collaborative problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Flexible part-time hours, arranged in coordination with the supervisor, allowing for a balance between research work and academic study. The hybrid aspect suggests some flexibility in location for non-lab tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is typical of a cutting-edge research institute, emphasizing practical experimentation and theoretical application. The hybrid flexibility is a modern perk, balancing the need for hands-on lab work with the convenience of remote access for certain tasks.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Application review, focusing on academic qualifications, relevant project experience, and programming skills.
• Technical Interview: Likely involves discussions about your academic background, specific projects (e.g., Bachelor's thesis, coursework projects), and understanding of core concepts in electrical engineering and potentially microcontrollers. You may be asked conceptual questions related to the job description.
• Team/Supervisor Discussion: A meeting with Rebekka Denninger or another team member to assess cultural fit, motivation for the thesis topic, and alignment with the team's research goals.
• Potential Practical Assessment: While less common for a thesis, a brief coding exercise or discussion of a past technical problem could be included.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Thesis Proposal Outline: If you have a preliminary idea or outline for your Master's thesis, prepare to discuss it.
• Project Demonstrations: Be ready to discuss any relevant academic projects, personal projects, or prior internships. Highlight your role, the technical challenges, your solutions, and the outcomes. If you have code repositories (e.g., GitHub), have them ready to share.
• Technical Documentation Samples: If you have examples of technical reports, documentation, or project summaries from previous work, these can be valuable. Focus on clarity, structure, and the demonstration of technical understanding.
• Problem-Solving Examples: Prepare to walk through a specific technical problem you encountered and how you approached solving it, detailing your thought process and the steps taken.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Core Problem: Thoroughly review the job description. Be prepared to discuss the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources into the grid and the role of power electronics and control systems.
• RCP Concepts: Research "Rapid Control Prototyping" and its benefits for power electronics development. Understand the concept of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation.
• Power Electronics Basics: Brush up on fundamental concepts of power converters, inverters, and grid stability.
• Microcontroller Programming: Be ready to discuss your experience with microcontroller architectures, programming languages (likely C/C++), and development tools.
• Fraunhofer ISE: Research Fraunhofer ISE's mission, current projects, and its role in the energy transition.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "portfolio" for a thesis is your academic record and any demonstrable projects. The interview will assess your potential to conduct independent research and contribute to the team's goals.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Rapid-Control-Prototyping (RCP) Systems: Specific vendor systems may be used (e.g., dSPACE, Speedgoat, Opal-RT), requiring familiarity with their development environments.
• Microcontroller Development Environments: Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) for specific microcontroller families (e.g., STM32CubeIDE, MPLAB X, IAR Embedded Workbench).
• Programming Languages: Primarily C/C++ for embedded systems and potentially Python for scripting or data analysis.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Acquisition Software: Tools for logging and visualizing sensor data from experiments.
• Matlab/Simulink: Widely used in academia and industry for system modeling, simulation, and control design, especially for power electronics and embedded systems.
• Spreadsheet Software: For basic data analysis and reporting (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets).

CRM & Automation:

• Version Control Systems: Git (e.g., via GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) for managing code and collaboration.
• Documentation Tools: Tools for creating technical reports and documentation (e.g., LaTeX, Microsoft Word, Confluence).

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is focused on embedded systems development, real-time control, and research instrumentation. Familiarity with Matlab/Simulink and C/C++ for microcontrollers is highly probable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Excellence: Driven by scientific curiosity and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of renewable energy technology.
• Sustainability: A core value, with all research efforts geared towards creating a more sustainable energy future.
• Collaboration: Emphasis on teamwork and knowledge sharing to solve complex problems effectively.
• Data-Driven Approach: Decisions and research directions are guided by rigorous data analysis and experimental validation.
• Efficiency: Continuous efforts to optimize research processes and develop efficient technological solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Scientists and students work together, sharing expertise across different domains of electrical engineering and energy systems.
• Process Review & Feedback: Openness to discussing research methodologies, code, and results, with constructive feedback loops.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing findings through internal presentations, team meetings, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is characterized by scientific rigor, a shared mission for sustainability, and a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary environment typical of leading research institutions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Simulation and Reality: Successfully implementing and validating complex control algorithms developed in simulation on real-time hardware, dealing with discrepancies and unforeseen issues.
• Hardware-Software Integration: Ensuring seamless communication and data flow between the modular inverter platform and the RCP system, managing timing constraints and potential conflicts.
• System Complexity: Working with advanced power electronics systems and grid interaction dynamics requires a steep learning curve.
• Documentation Rigor: Maintaining detailed and accurate documentation for research reproducibility and potential future product development.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in embedded systems, real-time control, power electronics, and RCP methodologies.
• Industry Exposure: Gain insights into the cutting-edge research and development within the renewable energy sector.
• Mentorship: Benefit from guidance by experienced scientists in a top-tier research environment.
• Publication Potential: High-achieving thesis work may lead to co-authorship on research papers or conference presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to advanced R&D projects, requiring adaptability and a strong problem-solving mindset. The growth opportunities are significant for someone interested in a research or specialized engineering career.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Operations Strategy: "How would you approach designing an interface for a real-time control system to ensure reliable data transfer and accurate control execution?"
• Collaboration: "Describe a time you had to work with a team on a technical project. What was your role, and how did you ensure effective collaboration and communication?"
• Problem-Solving: "Imagine you're facing a problem where a control algorithm works perfectly in simulation but behaves erratically on the hardware. What steps would you take to diagnose and resolve this issue?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about Rapid-Control-Prototyping for power electronics and the energy transition?"
• "How do you see yourself contributing to our team's research goals?"
• "What are your expectations for mentorship and guidance during your Master's thesis?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, starting with the problem statement, your proposed solution, the tools and methods used, key results, and conclusions/future work.
• Technical Depth: Be prepared to explain the technical details of your work, especially regarding the interface implementation, sensor selection, and software development.
• Visual Aids: Use clear diagrams, code snippets (if relevant), and measurement plots to illustrate your points effectively.
• Impact Focus: Even though it's research, frame your work in terms of its potential impact on accelerating the development and deployment of grid-stabilizing technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss technical concepts related to the job description, your academic background, and your motivation for pursuing this specific research topic. Demonstrating a structured, analytical approach to problem-solving will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Master's thesis opportunity:

• Submit your online application through the Fraunhofer jobs portal.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights relevant academic achievements, programming skills (especially C/C++ and microcontroller experience), and any project work related to electrical engineering or embedded systems.
• Cover Letter Customization: Tailor your cover letter to express your genuine interest in the specific research topic, your motivation for working at Fraunhofer ISE, and how your skills align with the requirements. Mention your academic standing and desired thesis start date.
• Portfolio Preparation: Gather any relevant project documentation, code samples (if applicable), or academic reports that showcase your technical abilities and problem-solving approach. Be ready to discuss these during an interview.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Fraunhofer ISE's work in renewable energy, particularly their research on grid integration and power electronics. Understand their mission and values.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.