Assured PNT and Sensor Fusion Research Associate

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

12d•Onsite

About The Position

Applied Research Laboratories (ARL:UT) is a University Affiliated Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Its Space and Geophysics Laboratory conducts research in electromagnetic propagation, geo-positioning, and remote sensing, including monitoring GPS performance, specifying government geodetic-quality GPS receivers, and testing industry-produced receivers. The Research Associate provides expertise in secure, robust, and precise positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), applying scientific rigor to technologies relevant to the laboratory. The work focuses on navigation in contested and degraded environments, including detecting and locating radio-frequency interference and spoofing, combining GNSS with complementary sensors, and deriving PNT from non-traditional signals such as LEO satellite constellations. The position involves independent research, algorithm and software development, field data collection, technical communication, and collaboration with project teams. It also includes providing technical leadership and guidance to full-time and student employees. Occasional travel may be required.

Requirements

PhD in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, physics, computer science, mathematics, or a related field.
Experience developing software for scientific applications.
Experience developing GNSS, radionavigation, or PNT estimation algorithms.
Demonstrated record of authoring peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Demonstrated record of presenting scientific content to technical and non-technical audiences.
Dynamic skill set and willingness to work with new technologies; strong organization, planning, coordination, and time-management abilities.
Attention to detail, effective problem-solving skills, and sound judgment.
Ability to work independently with sensitive and confidential information, maintain a professional demeanor, work as a team member without daily supervision, and communicate effectively with varied client groups.
Ability to work under pressure and accept supervision.
Regular and punctual attendance.
Must be a U.S. citizen and meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information at the level appropriate to project requirements; selected applicant will undergo a government security investigation.

Nice To Haves

Experience with GNSS spoofing and jamming detection, signal authentication, or interference characterization.
Experience with RF emitter geolocation techniques, such as TDOA/FDOA or Doppler-based methods, from single or multiple platforms.
Experience with carrier-phase differential GNSS (CDGNSS/RTK), integer ambiguity resolution, and navigation integrity.
Experience with tightly coupled GNSS/inertial navigation, visual SLAM or bundle adjustment, or radar-based odometry and localization.
Experience with LEO-based PNT, including characterizing non-cooperative signals, OFDM-based ranging, and time-of-arrival and Doppler estimation.
Experience developing software-defined GNSS receivers, including real-time implementations and RF front-end integration.
Experience with adversarial estimation or game-theoretic decision-making, such as counter-UAS applications.
Experience collecting and curating large raw-RF or multi-sensor datasets.
Experience in multi-rate signal processing, remote sensing, radar, wireless communications, RF signal processing, ionosphere, reference frames, orbital mechanics, or digital design.
Experience estimating orbits of spacecraft and satellites.
Experience writing proposals for and leading externally funded research projects.
Experience with high-performance computing.
Proficiency with programming languages such as Python, C/C++, FORTRAN, or similar.
Experience developing on Linux and Windows platforms, including terminal-based environments (bash), version control (Git and GitHub/GitLab), and cloud services such as AWS.
Proficiency with LaTeX.
Eligibility for immediate access to classified information.
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Responsibilities

Perform independent GNSS signal and software research relevant to the Space and Geophysics Laboratory.
Present and publish research internally and externally, including presenting designs and test results at project reviews and technical meetings, publishing in scientific journals, and presenting at conferences.
Contribute to problem formulation, algorithm development, system design, software implementation, and data-collection methods for PNT applications in contested and degraded environments.
Develop and evaluate techniques to detect, characterize, and mitigate GNSS spoofing and jamming.
Develop methods to geolocate interference sources from terrestrial, airborne, and space-based platforms.
Develop state estimators that tightly couple GNSS carrier-phase measurements with inertial, visual, radar, or other sensor data, including integer ambiguity resolution and integrity monitoring.
Characterize and exploit signals of opportunity, including broadband LEO downlinks and other non-navigation signals, for ranging, timing, and positioning.
Derive estimation performance bounds to guide system design.
Plan and execute field data-collection campaigns using software-defined radio, GNSS, and multi-sensor platforms; analyze results and recommend improvements.
Implement software algorithms collaboratively, define interfaces between program components, document implementations, and define, implement, and execute test cases.
Further develop knowledge of PNT, estimation theory, sensor fusion, and software development principles.
Provide guidance and assistance to full-time and student employees.
Provide technical leadership and identify new directions for research.
Perform other related functions as assigned and travel occasionally to support meetings.