2027 PhD Graduate -Robotics Researcher

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Robotics Group in the Research and Exploratory Development Department is an interdisciplinary team of researchers and engineers that is inventing the future across the broad spectrum of robotics, with applications that strengthen national defense, advance space exploration, improve healthcare, and address critical challenges facing the nation. We are seeking highly skilled, highly motivated scientists and engineers to join us in taking intelligent robotic systems from concept to reality. We are a multidisciplinary team focused on groundbreaking impacts in the areas of robotics control, embodied agentic AI, multi-agent collaboration, robotic perception, human-robot teaming, and novel robot design. Our team is committed to excellence in research that has real-world impact. Successful members of our team tend to be creative problem solvers who are comfortable working at the edge of their comfort zone. We strive to foster an environment that welcomes a variety of backgrounds and professional experience as we aim to solve the hardest problems in robotics. As a member of our team, your primary responsibility will be defining and developing novel robotic concepts, systems, and algorithmic solutions to address relevant challenges. Current research areas include generative AI for robotic applications, advanced robotic control, robot perception & reasoning, novel robotic systems, human-robot teaming, multi-agent coordination, and safe/assured autonomy. Depending on your expertise, you will develop and implement control algorithms and AI techniques; invent new approaches to robot control, reasoning, and perception; design and fabricate robotic systems; and lead research teams. You will have the opportunity to publish your work and present the results to the scientific community, external collaborators, and/or government sponsors. You will also have the opportunity to propose and work on your own research ideas.

Requirements

Ph.D. in a relevant field such as Robotics, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field.
Experience in robotics or robotics applications of AI, computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or mathematics.
Able to obtain a DoD Secret-level security clearance.
U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing, simulating, and demonstrating algorithms for control of robotic systems.
Experience developing AI/ML software that integrates with hardware such as robotic platforms, sensors, or mechanical devices.
Experience designing, fabricating, and integrating robotics hardware.
Skilled in one or more programming languages and robotics frameworks, particularly ROS2, Python and C++.

Responsibilities

Defining and developing novel robotic concepts, systems, and algorithmic solutions to address relevant challenges.
Developing and implementing control algorithms and AI techniques.
Inventing new approaches to robot control, reasoning, and perception.
Designing and fabricating robotic systems.
Leading research teams.
Publishing work and presenting results to the scientific community, external collaborators, and/or government sponsors.
Proposing and working on your own research ideas.