Thesis work Modular Active Pedestrian System
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30+ days ago
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1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Thesis Worker at Volvo Cars
Welcome to explore the world of Volvo Cars by writing your thesis with us! As a thesis worker in our organization you are supported by a supervisor who follows you during your project. Through your thesis work you will be able to contribute to our company purpose providing freedom to move in a safe sustainable and personal way from day one!
About this opportunity - Background
Innovation starts with being curious. At Volvo Cars we believe that being curious and truly committed to understanding people is the key to future success. We are looking for driven and motivated students interested in pursuing their master thesis within Vehicle Engineering during the spring term 2026.
At Vehicle Engineering our responsibility spans the entire chassis interior climate body & exterior functions mechanical Integration and a range of vehicle attributes with impact on design and customer experience of our complete product. Across these domains and all development cycles we will lead an effective delivery operation on complete level in close sync with other Engineering units functions and stakeholders across the company.
This thesis work is within the area of Hood & Fender Systems at Exterior Front & Rear
Background & Motivation
Current active pedestrian safety systems typically use pyrotechnic hood lifters near the hood hinges or latch. These enable rapid deployment to protect pedestrians (lowering HIC) but after deployment multiple components (pyros hinges hood etc.) must be replaced resulting in high costs and complexity. Tuning pyro characteristics during development is also challenging and time-consuming. There is a growing need for systems that are not only effective but also cost-efficient sustainable and easier to reset or reuse. Recent innovations focus on fully reversible non-pyrotechnic systems that can be deployed multiple times reset automatically and eliminate hazardous substances thus reducing maintenance and repair costs.
Objectives:
Explore and develop reversible or non-destructive pedestrian protection systems that reduce total cost of ownership.
Enhance sustainability by minimizing waste and hazardous materials.
Benchmark current market solutions and identify technical challenges
Investigate system prerequisites for reliable fast and robust deployment and reset.
Address the need for early detection and activation using advanced sensors enabling proactive rather than reactive protection
Scope of the thesis work
Review and analyze existing active pedestrian protection systems focusing on both pyrotechnic and non-pyrotechnic (reusable) solutions.
Design and prototype a reusable or retractable system including actuator mechanisms sensor integration and reset logic.
Evaluate system performance: deployment speed robustness and effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
Assess cost sustainability and maintenance implications compared to current market solutions.
Consider adaptability for various vehicle classes and body shapes
Include simulation bench testing and (if possible) vehicle integration for proof of concept.
What youll bring
Solid understanding of vehicle safety systems crashworthiness and pedestrian protection are the required key competencies.
Experience or coursework in product development sensor technology and control systems.
Familiarity with CATIA simulation tools (e.g. MATLAB-Simulink Ansys) and basic prototyping.
Analytical skills for benchmarking cost analysis and sustainability assessment.
Strong communication skills for reporting and presenting technical findings.
Masters in Engineering Mechanics / Vehicle Engineering / Automotive Engineering / Mechatronics / Applied Mechanics would be preferred.
We are seeking a Masters student who can work hands-on with physical components on site.
Duration
Tentative proposed thesis work period: 19th January 2026 to 26th of June 2026 (dates can be flexible with /- 7 days)
The duration for this thesis work is 20 weeks.
30 ECTS (Master academic credits) in agreement with your Thesis Advisor in University
This thesis is to be conducted by 1 Student or 2 Students working in pair (preferred).
Volvo Cars. For Life.
For nearly a century Volvo Cars has empowered people to move freely in a personal sustainable and safe way. Today we are driving bold advancements in electrification sustainability and automotive safety. To realize our ambitious vision we are seeking innovative minds who are ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow today.
In our company we believe extraordinary things are achieved by ordinary people with the drive to make a difference.
Ready to take the next step
Applications should include your CV and a brief personal letter stating your interests within the given area and your thoughts and credentials. Submit your CV in English
Applications must be received no later than 31st of October 2025. We are prioritising direct applications to ensure a fair and efficient application process.
For questions regarding the recruitment process please contact Recruiter Radoslaw Piela at or Siddhant Gupta at
For specific questions about the position please reach out to Hiring Manager Henrik Valter Svensson at
Welcome with your application!
Key Skills
- Computer Science
- Business Process
- Active Directory
- ISO
- Linux
- Project Management
- Sharepoint
- ERP
- QA
- User Training
- System upgrade
- System Administration
- SDLC
- Setup
- UNIX
About Company
Volvo Car USA is a subsidiary of Volvo Car Group of Gothenburg, Sweden and is headquartered in Rockleigh, NJ, with regional sales offices located in Rockleigh, Summerville, SC, and Irvine, CA. In addition, Volvo Car US Operations, the home of our new US factory, is located in South Ca ... View more
