Postdoctoral Appointee - Research and Development Robotics​/Machine Vision

About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

* These benefits vary by job classification.

We are seeking a postdoctoral apointee to join our dynamic team to help us solve some of the most significant modern day technical challenges in national security.

On any given day you may be called on to:

• Develop novel algorithms for autonomous perception, planning, and action for the control of various mechatronic systems
• Develop and field novel robots, actuators, and autonomous control systems, including novel R&D drone and counter-drone applications
• Work as part of multidisciplinary science and engineering teams doing cutting edge research and technology development to support the nation's security needs
• Execute technical work with excellence to include participating in the development of competitive funding proposals, and publishing results in peer reviewed journals

The successful Postdoctoral appointee will lead and support the development of novel solutions for robotic, electromechanical, uncrewed and/or automated/autonomous systems for projects in a fast-paced team environment. Responsibilities will span the breadth of R&D from applied research to the development and delivery of operational systems.

• PhD in Robotics /Mechanical / Electrical / Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or similar, with a focus on automation, autonomy, and/or robotic systems
• Experience developing software algorithms and/or applications and/or development and realization of hardware
• Algorithm development or programming experience with one or more of the following: C, C++, Matlab, Python or similar languages

• Experience in reinforcement learning (RL), especially in applied RL for UAS/drone control or agile robotics, is highly desired
• Background/experience in developing/applying estimation and control theory/algorithms, especially for UAS/drones
• Experience with machine learning accelerated computing software libraries (e.g., jax, pytorch, tensor flow, etc. for python or ML libraries in other languages)
• Experience developing and implementing challenging engineering solutions for end users, including experience with designing and integrating mechatronic hardware/software systems
• Strong software development fundamentals, including one or more of the following:
  • Languages:
    
    Python and C++
  • Experience with Git workflows
  • Experience with Docker environments
  • Familiarity with ROS and/or ROS2
• Experience with optical sensing
  • Experience with fiducial generation and detection algorithms (e.g. for Apriltags, QR-codes, or similar)
  • Understanding of camera calibration, image registration, image manipulation, and image processing
• Experience implementing advanced multi-sensor perception systems
• Experience with multi-object control and/or tracking algorithms
• Training and/or developing machine learning algorithms for object classification, target recognition, and anomaly detection and characterization
• Experience with communication protocols (e.g., I2C, SPI, TCP/IP, EtherCAT) and physical layers (Wired, RF, Optical)
• Dynamic systems modeling and/or optimization

Organization 6565 Uncrewed Systems and Autonomy R&D specializes in robotics, advanced manufacturing automation, advanced controls, miniature mechatronic design and fabrication, electronics, human/machine interface and teaming, sensor systems, and computer vision systems. The department conducts both applied research and applications development of robotic systems resulting in…