ABB
Master´s thesis – Next Generation Mobile Experience for Process Supervision and Control
Sweden · Work style not stated
Apply on the employer’s site ↗See how well you match this job
You apply directly with the employer. ROLIVA does not submit applications from this page and is not the employer.
About the role
Description from the employer’s posting. Check the employer’s page for the current version.
- EmployerABB
- LocationSweden
- Work styleWork style not stated
- Employer posted
At ABB, we help industries outrun - leaner and cleaner. Here, progress is an expectation - for you, your team, and the world. As a global market leader, we’ll give you what you need to make it happen. It won’t always be easy, growing takes grit. But at ABB, you’ll never run alone. Run what runs the world.
This Position reports to:
R&D Team Lead
Your role and responsibilities
Industrial automation systems have traditionally been designed around the control room, where operators supervise, diagnose, and control industrial processes through dedicated Distributed Control System (DCS) workstations. However, many operational tasks take place outside the control room. Operators perform plant walkarounds, maintenance personnel troubleshoot equipment in the field, and service engineers provide on-site or remote support. These situations often require access to process information while users are mobile, yet current solutions are typically constrained by fixed workstations, fragmented tools, or limited mobile functionality.
Show full description
At the same time, advances in mobile technologies, edge computing, industrial connectivity, and AI-assisted decision support create new opportunities for extending process awareness beyond the control room. Mobile devices can provide contextual information, real-time process insights, guided workflows, and collaboration capabilities directly where work is performed. Future solutions may not only replicate existing DCS functionality on a smaller screen, but redefine how industrial personnel interact with automation systems while on the move.
This thesis will explore how next-generation mobile user experiences can support process supervision, troubleshooting, maintenance, and decision-making in industrial environments. The student will investigate user needs, identify key use cases, study current and emerging technologies, and develop concepts or prototypes for future mobile solutions within ABB's automation ecosystem.
Recommended research questions are (can be some of the following):
- How can mobile user experiences be designed to support safe and effective access to process information outside the control room?
- What information and functionality do operators, technicians, and service engineers need when interacting with a DCS in the field?
- How can AI-assisted insights, recommendations, and contextual guidance improve decision-making in mobile industrial environments?
- How should future mobile solutions support collaboration between control room personnel, field technicians, and remote experts?
- What technical and communication requirements must be considered when extending DCS capabilities to mobile platforms?
Details:
- Spring 2027, commonly between Jan-July
- 30 ECTS/högskolepoäng (hp)
- 1-2 students
- In Västerås, possibility for hybrid workplace
Your responsibilities
- Conduct a literature review covering mobile interaction in industrial environments, mobile operator solutions, human factors, AI-assisted decision support, and remote collaboration.
- Investigate current ABB offerings and relevant market solutions for mobile access to automation and process information.
- Conduct user research through interviews, workshops, contextual studies, or discussions with ABB experts and end users.
- Identify user needs, pain points, workflows, and key use cases for mobile process supervision and support.
- Analyze technical and communication requirements associated with identified use cases.
- Develop concepts and user experience visions for next-generation mobile DCS solutions.
- Create interactive prototypes demonstrating selected concepts and use cases.
- Evaluate concepts with users or domain experts and collect feedback.
- Summarize findings and provide design recommendations for future ABB mobile offerings.
Your background
We are looking for motivated master's students interested in designing future industrial user experiences and digital solutions.
Candidates could have:
- Academic Background in one or more of the following fields:
- Interaction Design
- Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
- User Experience (UX) Design
- Industrial Design Engineering
- Human Factors Engineering
- Computer Science
- Cognitive Science or Cognitive Systems
- Media Technology
- Interest in user-centered design, digital product development, and emerging technologies.
- Ability to conduct qualitative user research and translate findings into requirements, concepts, and design recommendations.
- Experience creating prototypes and visual concepts using tools such as Figma or similar.
- Ability to work independently and creatively in an exploratory research environment.
- Interest in industrial automation, process industries, AI-assisted systems, or industrial digitalization is considered a strong merit.
More about us
Recruiting Manager Dawid Ziobro, dawid.ziobro@se.abb.com, will answer your questions.
Apply with your CV, academic transcripts and a cover letter in English.
We look forward to receiving your application!
A future opportunity
This role is part of our talent pipeline, which means it’s not currently open, but we’re always looking for curious minds, bold thinkers, and people who want to make an impact.
Click Apply to express your interest and be considered for future opportunities that match your experience and aspirations.
At ABB, we welcome people from all backgrounds and believe that diverse perspectives help us build a cleaner, smarter future.
Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about how we help run what runs the world.
Check your resume against this job Free, no sign-up. Nothing you paste is stored.
Staying safe while you apply
- Never pay to apply, interview or accept an offer. ROLIVA never asks you for payment to apply to a job.
- Apply only through the official “Apply on the employer’s site” button, on the employer’s own site, and check that a recruiter’s email uses that employer’s own domain rather than a free email address.
- Be cautious of an offer made with no real interview, or pressure to decide quickly or share financial details early.
Does something look wrong with this listing? Use “Report broken link” in the role details, or read ROLIVA’s full job-safety guidance ↗.
Preparing for this role with ROLIVA
- Check the fit.
Compare the requirements with the experience you have confirmed, including gaps.
- Prepare honestly.
Build interview stories and application drafts from your own evidence.
- Keep track.
Save the role and record your own application status and follow-ups.
At a glance
- Employer posted
- Added to ROLIVA
- Last checked
Skills in this posting
Skills ROLIVA found in the employer’s own description above. A mention is not a requirement.