EngD position Design tool for tyre-snow performance predictions

Apollo Tyres Ltd is an international tyremanufacturer and the leading tyre brand in India. The company has multiplemanufacturing units in India and a unit each in The Netherlands and company markets its products under its two global brands Apollo and Vredesteinand its products are available in over 100 countries through a vast network ofbranded exclusive and multi-product outlets.

Job Title: EngD position: Design tool for tyre-snow performance predictions
Location: Enschede
Reports to (Position): HOD
Department/Function: Simulation & Digitalization Department

Who weare

Apollo Tyres is a tire manufacturer of Indianorigin. Apollo is an ambitious and growing company with factories in India andEurope as well as sales offices around the world. About 160 employees work atGlobal R&D in Enschede to develop new (car) tires for Apollo andVredestein.
Winter tires are characterized by excellent performance at coldtemperatures and in snowy conditions. The development of new winter tireshowever can be challenging. For example mold production is time consuming(due to all the small details the so-called sipes that are required forsnow grip) and the quality and behavior of snow is highly variable which is achallenge for design when comparing outdoor test results with laboratoryconditions. Therefore numerical simulation tools are being developed to betterestimate the effect of design changes on the tire performances especiallyrelevant at the early stages of the development of new tires.

Objectiveor the assignment
The project is in collaboration with Apollo Tyres GlobalR&D and it aim is to develop a comprehensive numerical model for tire-snowinteraction: coupled numerical models for rubber-snow interaction will beimplemented using the Abaqus software. Although numerical simulationenvironments have been developed to predict the snow performance of newlydeveloped tire prototypes challenges remain in comparing and validatingadvanced numerical models.
The main objective is to select the most suitable solution from theperspective of stakeholder demands and implement and integrate it intoApollos professional environment. The accuracy for predicting snow performanceof winter tires will be validated experimentally followed by further modelimprovements and implementation or design of a robust workflow and predictivedesign tool.

Yourtasks
Investigate the speed accuracy and convergence of advances numerical models for tyre snow interaction (e.g. using the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) and Smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) methods for snowy conditions)
Integration of numerical models within the simulation environment of Apollo
Ensure the robustness of the tire prototyping process

Yourprofile
MSc graduate in Mechanical Engineering Physics Civil Engineering or related fields
Knowledge of Finite Element Method (FEM)
Mandatory coding experiences (Python Fortran)
Experience with numerical simulation (e.g. Abaqus UMAT

What dowe offer
We offer a position in an inspiring multidisciplinary and international environment with an attractive campus and lots of facilities for sports and leisure
The university provides a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues.
Excellent facilities for professional and personal development
A contract for 38 hours per week

Information and application
Applications for this vacancy must be submittedthrough the University of Twente website.

Please use the link below to access the official vacancy page and submityour application: more information about this vacancy you cancontact Dr. Hongyang Cheng(e-mail: . Stefan Luding ()

Are you interested in beingpart of our team
Please send your application by30th April 2026 via the apply now button and include:
a cover letter (maximum one A4 page)
a detailed CV
contact details of at least 2 references.

Interviews are planned for the last two weeks of May.
Screening is part of the procedure.