Postdoctoral Researcher in Software Engineering with a Focus on AI

Blekinge Institute of Technology is a place for curiosity and ingenuity, located in the heart of the Blekinge archipelago. We offer education from undergraduate to doctoral level and conduct world-class applied research. We are making a difference. Do you want to be one of us? The Department of Software Engineering is internationally recognized for its research and educational environment. Our greatest strength is the strong focus on industry-relevant empirical research in close collaboration with the business community. BTH's research in software engineering is highly ranked internationally.

Job Description

You are expected to explore both software architecture and design, focusing on how AI can support engineering practices in software development, AI4SE, and how the integration of AI components changes the fundamental nature of software systems, SE4AI. From an architectural perspective, the research investigates how the introduction of AI elements such as retrainable machine learning models, large language models, and RAG modules challenge established architectural styles, methods for architectural evaluation, and governance models, requiring new approaches to modularity, decoupling, versioning, deployment, and lifecycle management.

You will be a central member of the research group and work in collaboration with industrial and academic partners. Your tasks will include, among others:

• Investigating how the integration of AI components such as large language models, retrainable machine learning models, and RAG modules affects software architecture, including consequences for modularity, lifecycle management, and methods for architectural evaluation.
• Studying how AI changes principles and patterns for software design, focusing on the internal structure and development of AI-intensive components, including prompting logic, data transformation flows, retraining mechanisms, and support for explainability.
• Analyzing the interplay between architectural decisions and design-level trade-offs in AI-intensive systems, focusing on non-determinism, continuous data dependencies, testability, and maintainability.
• Developing and applying strategies for architectural evaluation, including simulation-based methods, evaluation based on established patterns and practices, as well as the development and use of evidence, metrics, and tests to evaluate and compare architectural solutions.
• Publishing research results in leading international conferences and scientific journals, as well as contributing to industry-relevant research in software engineering.

Up to 20% of the working time may include other tasks than research, such as teaching and supervision. The applicant is expected to actively participate in the department's research and educational activities.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the postdoctoral position, the applicant must have obtained a doctoral degree or have a foreign degree that is deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. The eligibility requirement must be fulfilled no later than at the time the employment decision is made.

In the first instance, preference will be given to those who have obtained their degree no more than three years before the application deadline. If there are special reasons, those who obtained their doctoral degree earlier may also be considered, for example, due to various types of statutory leave.

The eligibility requirements and assessment criteria are described in detail in BTH's Guidelines for the Employment and Promotion of Teachers, which can be found at the end of the Job Openings page (https://www.bth.se/om-bth/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb (https://www.bth.se/om-bth/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb)).

Meritorious Competences and Experiences

In addition to the requirements described in the job description, eligibility requirements, and assessment criteria for the position, the following degrees, competences, and experiences are considered meritorious:

• Experience in research in close collaboration with industry partners.
• Technical knowledge and practical experience of modern AI (including generative AI/LLMs) and software engineering.
• Publications in highly ranked international conferences or journals.
• Experience in empirical software engineering, AI prototyping, or studies of human-AI interaction.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Great emphasis is placed on high social competence and strong professional ethics.

Work location: Karlskrona.

Work extent: 100%.

Start date: By agreement.

Duration: Fixed-term employment for 2-3 years, with the possibility of extension. The total employment period may not exceed three years.

Application deadline: March 23, 2026.

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Instructions for applicants can be found at https://www.bth.se/om-bth/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb (https://www.bth.se/om-bth/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb). As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and instructions.

BTH welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We actively work to harness the qualities that diversity and gender balance bring to the organization.

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