Shape the future of resilient networked systems
Three Research Area Managers
Austria’s new competence center for Autonomic Resilience in Dynamic Networked Systems (ARC) aims to strengthen the resilience of energy systems, manufacturing facilities, and organizations. Led and hosted by Lakeside Labs GmbH in Klagenfurt, the center brings together more than 25 research organizations, companies, and application partners to develop semi-autonomous solutions for enhancing resilience. Funding has been approved for four years with a total budget of € 22.8 million, with the center set to launch in January 2027.
The ambitious research program is structured around three interconnected research areas (RAs):
- RA1: System dynamics and principles of network resilience
- RA2: Self-organization techniques for resilient systems
- RA3: Autonomic resilience solutions for industry.
To build and lead the new research center, we are seeking three outstanding individuals to take on the role of Area Manager. Area Managers take the organizational, thematic, and strategic responsibility for one of ARC’s research areas. They shape the area’s development, establish the conditions for successful work, manage resources and people, and ensure effective collaboration across projects, areas, and partners. This position combines research, supervision and management, leadership, and partner engagement. It offers the opportunity to play a central role in building a new research center from the ground up. Each Area Manager will be supported by two professors from the scientific partners, acting as key researchers for the area.
Tasks and responsibilities
- Perform operational management of the area, both from a scientific and organizational perspective together with the Center Coordinator and the Managing Director
- Conduct strategic alignment, scientific orientation, and development of the area together with the respective Key researchers (Professors) and the Scientific Director
- Perform leading participation in the Area’s research and development projects contributing scientific aspects
- Acquire funded projects and contract research
- Lead and develop a team of Project Managers, Senior and Junior Researchers, including personnel management and development
- Perform area resource and project planning and budgeting, supervisory project controlling (financial and quality/time) and efficiency review
- Align the area’s strategy and exploiting synergies with the other research areas of the center and Lakeside Labs
- Co-author scientific publications
- Contribute to public relations, including giving presentations
- Represent the area at internal and external scientific and industry-related events
- Exploit the area’s potential and results (including partner synergies)
- Report area-specific content and financials to Center Management
Profile requirements
- A doctoral degree in technical or natural sciences, or a master’s degree in these fields with 8+ years of research experience
- At least 5 years of experience leading research projects or teams, including collaborative research involving industrial partners
- Proven track record of applied research in the field of the center (including resilient and adaptive systems, distributed and self-organizing systems, autonomous and agentic systems, artificial intelligence and recommender systems, dependable and trustworthy computing, non-linear systems and complex system dynamics, energy systems and critical infrastructure, resilient manufacturing and industrial systems, and human-centered autonomy and decision support). Expertise has to be supported by a track of relevant scientific publications.
- Successful experience in acquiring competitive funding
- Excellent management, leadership, communication, and societal skills
- A strategic mindset with the ability to work across disciplinary and organizational boundaries and to turn ideas into concrete activities
- Fluent German and English skills on a level to conduct negotiations
About us
Lakeside Labs is a non-profit organization for research and innovation specializing in self-organizing and resilient networked systems. Working at the interface of fundamental research, emerging technologies, and industrial application, our goal is to apply and improve methods of self-organization in the fields of IoT, robotics, production, transportation, and energy.
Located in the Lakeside Science & Technology Park in Klagenfurt, adjacent to the university campus and IT companies, we offer a nice working atmosphere in beautiful southern Austria close to the Lake Wörthersee. We are strongly committed to diversity, equal treatment, and family-friendly working conditions. Female and international applicants are therefore explicitly encouraged to apply.
Joining ARC means becoming part of a new research center from its very beginning. You will have the opportunity to: Build something new, lead research, work with industry and academia, collaborate internationally, create impact, and develop people.
Key facts
- Organization: Lakeside Labs GmbH
- Location: Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria, Europe
- Position: Area Manager, ARC COMET Competence Center
- Employment: Full-time, with flexible arrangements possible
- Gross salary: 80,000 € annual
- Start: January 2027 / by agreement
How to apply
Submit your application with all relevant documents (cover letter, CV/resume, certificates, list of publications, previous activities, references, etc.) as one pdf-file by email to applications@lakeside-labs.com using the subject “Area Manager for ARC RA <RA>” . Please also indicate your earliest possible starting date. Job interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis as applications are received.
(Last update: September 14, 2026)
