PhD Graduate - Postdoctoral Researcher in Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Are you searching for impactful, hands‑on work at the forefront of robotics, autonomous systems, and AI‑enabled decision making?

Are you interested in advancing state‑of‑the‑art autonomy through applied research and experimentation?

Are you excited to work on mission‑driven problems that require both technical depth and system‑level thinking?

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Robotics and Autonomous Systems to join the Tailored Autonomous Systems Group (QPJ). This role is intended for recent PhD graduates who want to apply advanced research to real‑world robotic systems operating in complex, mission‑driven environments providing asymmetric capabilities for our nation.

Our team develops robotic capabilities and low‑size, weight, and power (SWaP) autonomous systems to address the nation’s immediate needs, bringing together experts spanning platform design, embedded autonomy, perception, and mission‑level behaviors, with a strong emphasis on hands‑on system development, rapid prototyping, and field experimentation.

This position is ideal for candidates who want to bridge cutting‑edge research and operational deployment, working on systems that extend human capabilities and operate in high‑risk or denied environments.

• Lead and contribute to applied research in robotics and autonomy, transitioning novel ideas into prototypes and deployable systems
• Design, build, and integrate robotic platforms, including sensing, compute, control, and communications
• Contribute to teams developing advanced autonomy algorithms and pipelines on resource‑constrained hardware, including perception, planning, decision‑making, and multi‑agent coordination
• Develop and evaluate systems using simulation, digital twins, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HWIL) environments
• Conduct field experiments and performance evaluations in realistic operational scenarios
• Collaborate across mechanical, electrical, software, and AI/ML disciplines to deliver integrated capabilities
• Publish results and help shape future research directions and proposals

• Have a Ph.D. in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• Demonstrate a strong record of research in robotics or autonomous systems (e.g., publications, dissertation work, or equivalent)
• Have hands‑on experience building and testing robotic systems
• Are familiar with embedded platforms (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson, microcontrollers, FPGA‑based systems) and real‑time sensing and processing
• Have experience with robotics frameworks and simulation environments (e.g., ROS/ROS2, Gazebo, Isaac Sim, or similar)
• Are proficient in programming languages such as Python and C++
• Are able to obtain an Interim Top Secret clearance to start and ultimately a final Top‑Secret security clearance (U.S. citizenship required; subject to a government background investigation).

• Have experience developing real‑world robotic platforms (e.g., UAVs, UGVs, maritime, or custom systems)
• Have deep algorithm expertise in one or more areas, such as perception, SLAM, planning, control, or multi‑agent autonomy
• Have experience adapting and deploying AI models for real‑time inference on embedded/edge platforms (e.g., Jetson, FPGA, microcontrollers, real‑time systems)
• Have strong experience with robotics simulation and digital twin environments (e.g., Gazebo, Isaac Sim, Unreal, Air Sim)
• Have experience with hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HWIL) testing and sim‑to‑real transfer
• Have experience with rapid prototyping, including CAD, fabrication, and electronics integration
• Demonstrate a track record of transitioning research into operational or applied systems
• Have experience leading technical efforts or mentoring junior researchers

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world‑class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including…