Research Engineer

at  California Institute of Technology

JOB SUMMARY

The Autonomous Robotics and Control Group at Caltech seeks a full-time, temporary Research Engineer to help develop the next generation of autonomous algorithms for earth and space applications. Our group doesn’t just develop new theories but puts them to the test in the real world. From the famous walking/flying hybrid LEO to AI/ML controls, supporting science with UAVs and our spacecraft simulator, we do a wide range of research supporting a broad spectrum of applications.
We are looking for someone to help us design, integrate, and test our concepts and ideas. Example tasks could include developing perception, motion-planning and control algorithms, designing electrical and mechanical systems, coding/configuring simulations; documentation; solution-space trade studies.
This position is perfect for someone who considers themselves a ‘generalist’ and has a little bit of knowledge spanning many different fields. It also provides a great opportunity to broaden your knowledge base as you will be exposed to many different projects and disciplines at both a practical and theoretical level.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (or a comparable degree), with experience in either coding (C++ or python), controls, machine learning/AI, space systems, or robotics.
• Ability to adapt to new fields and a willingness to learn new skills in support of a plethora of exciting projects.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Practical experience in robotics, signal processing, and software implementation.
• Experience with software packages, including ROS, Linux, C++, and Python.

• Support robotics research within both a lab and field environment. This involves design and manufacture (3D modeling, rapid prototyping, etc.), software development (hardware drivers, motion planning, tracking control), and testing (deployment of code on physical hardware, operation of robots).
• Develop simulations of wheeled vehicles using system identification techniques on real-world data to improve accuracy. Simulations will also need to be configured for differing environmental conditions and run in CI/CD environments.
• Write documentation and complete trade studies of new designs to help guide future research within the lab.