McSCert is hiring postdoctoral fellows, research engineers, graduate students and undergraduate researchers
The McMaster Centre for Software Certification (McSCert) is a world-leading centre for research on critical systems that rely on software. We are interested in questions about how to be confident that the software-intensive systems we build are acceptably safe and secure to deploy. From the health care systems that underpin our hospitals, to avionics and aerospace systems, to the cars that we drive, to the drones that will deliver our medication in the future, the challenges of certification are complex, sophisticated and exciting.
We are recruiting outstanding researchers at all levels to carry out interesting, industry-focused research and development in all areas of software and systems engineering. If you have a strong software engineering background and would like to join a world-class research center, read on!
Who are we recruiting?
McSCert is hiring postdoctoral fellows, research engineers, graduate students and undergraduate researchers.
Postdoctoral Opportunities
We are recruiting up to three Early Career Researchers, at post-doctoral level, to work on the following projects:
- Model-Based Development of Assured Autonomous Vehicles
- Certification and Assurance of Security and Safety Properties
- Mixed-Criticality Systems and Dynamic Risk Assessment via Machine Learning
- Optimizing Performance and Architecture of Large-Scale Cloud-Based Fare Collection Systems
- Migration from Decentralized to Centralized Automotive E/E Architectures
You will have excellent software engineering skills and a PhD in a related area. You will receive mentoring and training from McSCert faculty and researchers, including support for networking opportunities with industry leaders, opportunities for teaching and supervision of students, and many opportunities to travel to disseminate your research at conferences and industry events. Moreover, you will actively collaborate with industry partners from the transportation industry or the medical industry.

Research Engineer Positions
We are recruiting up to three Research Engineers to work on the following projects:
- Model-Based Systems Development of Automotive Embedded Systems
- Optimizing Performance and Architecture of Large-Scale Cloud-Based Fare Collection Systems
- Migration from Decentralized to Centralized Automotive E/E Architectures
You will have excellent software engineering skills. You will actively participate in/lead collaborations with industry partners from the transportation industry. You will receive mentoring and training from McSCert faculty and researchers, including opportunities for teaching and supervision of students, and many opportunities to travel to disseminate your research at conferences and industry events.
Click here for detailed job descriptions
PhD Opportunities
We are recruiting PhD students to work on the following projects:
- Automated Software Migration across Hardware Platforms
- Model-Based Reviewing and Validation
- Optimizing Performance and Architecture of Large-Scale Cloud-Based Fare Collection Systems
- Migration from Decentralized to Centralized Automotive E/E Architectures
- Model-Based Systems Development of Automotive Embedded Systems
- ...
You will have excellent software engineering skills and a Master's degree in a related area. You will receive mentoring and training from McSCert faculty and researchers, including support for networking opportunities with industry leaders, opportunities for teaching and supervision of undergraduate students, and many opportunities to travel to disseminate your research at conferences and industry events. Moreover, you will actively work with industry partners on real-world production-scale problems. We provide funding for you to carry out your studies and to travel to conferences to disseminate your research results.
Master's Opportunities
We are recruiting Master's students to work on the following projects:
- Optimizing Performance and Architecture of Large-Scale Cloud-Based Fare Collection Systems
- Migration from Decentralized to Centralized Automotive E/E Architectures
- Model-Based Systems Development of Automotive Embedded Systems
- ...
You will have excellent software engineering skills. You will receive mentoring and training from McSCert faculty and researchers, including support for networking opportunities with industry leaders, opportunities for teaching and supervision of undergraduate students, and many opportunities to travel to disseminate your research at conferences and industry events. Moreover, you will actively work with our industry partners on industrial production-scale problems. We provide funding for you to carry out your studies and to travel to conferences to disseminate your research results.
Opportunities for Undergraduate Students
We are recruiting undergraduate students to work on the following projects:
- Optimizing Performance and Architecture of Large-Scale Cloud-Based Fare Collection Systems
- Migration from Decentralized to Centralized Automotive E/E Architectures
- Model-Based Systems Development of Automotive Embedded Systems
- Proving Ground for Connected and Automated vehicles
- ...
You will have excellent software engineering skills. You will receive mentoring and training from McSCert faculty and researchers, including support for networking opportunities with industry leaders, and opportunities to travel to disseminate your research at conferences and industry events. Moreover, you will actively work with our industry partners on industrial production-scale problems.
Who will I be working with?
You will be working with an international world-class team of academics, post-doctoral researchers, PhD students, Masters students, research engineers from industry, and summer students. Our research group has a strong track record of collaboration with industry. We currently have active and ongoing projects with GM, Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis), Toyota, IBM, numerous avionics, and aerospace companies, and many more. Our postdoctoral fellows and research engineers are highly experienced at industry collaboration and academic dissemination and will help you obtain the skills you need to pursue industrial and academic careers. McMaster University is the leading research centre in the world for research in automotive software engineering and software certification.

Where will I be located?
The Centre is located in the Department of Computing and Software at McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Hamilton is a thriving lakeside community of 550,000 people. McMaster University is situated on purpose-built accommodation next to Cootes Paradise, a protected nature reserve. As such, the University campus is very green and filled with wildlife.
Many of our researchers are based at MARC: the McMaster Automotive Research Centre, a short walk/bike ride/drive away. MARC houses one of the largest groups of researchers working on automotive engineering challenges in the world.
Why McSCert?
- We offer a vibrant and dynamic research environment, where you will be able to work on cutting edge state-of-the-art software engineering challenges.
- We have the equipment, know-how and connections that will help you succeed.
- We have a thriving group of researchers with significant industry connections. You will be joining a successful team of stars and future stars.
- We offer competitive funding and salaries for researchers, as well as funding for travel to events and conferences.
- We are focused on helping PhD students graduate quickly. Our mentoring program is set up to give you every opportunity to complete your PhD degree within 4 years, meaning you can get out and use your world-leading expertise sooner – and make software engineering better for everyone!
How do I apply?
For applications and informal inquiries, please contact Vera Pantelic at pantelv@mcmaster.ca. Applications should include the candidate’s resume and transcripts as well as the names and contact information for two references.Click here to see McSCert's Student/Supervisor Agreement