Robotics Engineer

Robotics Engineer 

3 year contract

Pay Range: $65 to 90/hr. DOE

Clearance: Secret eligible

Hybrid: 3 days onsite

The Human Health & Performance Systems Group 24 focuses on objective, technology-based, human-centered solutions to measure, model, and modify cognitive and physiological function for performance enhancement, sustainment, or recovery. The Group develops advanced technologies spanning artificial intelligence, sensing, human-machine systems, medical technology, and robotics.

Group 24 is in need of a Robotics Engineer to support the rapid development, integration, and evaluation of robotic and electromechanical systems. The position requires a highly hands-on engineer who can contribute across software, mechanical, electrical, and system integration activities and work effectively on small, multidisciplinary teams executing rapid research and development programs.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:
1.Work within small, multidisciplinary teams to rapidly transition concepts into functional prototypes and demonstrations.
2.Design, prototype, fabricate, integrate, and test robotic hardware and electromechanical systems.
3.Develop rapid prototypes using CAD, 3D printing, machining, and other fabrication techniques.
4.Integrate software, electronics, sensors, actuators, and mechanical components into complete robotic systems.
5.Develop and integrate embedded electronics, sensors, actuators, and microcontroller-based systems.
6.Design, develop, and maintain software for robotic and electromechanical systems, with an emphasis on C++ development.
7.Develop test methods and conduct system-level testing and evaluation of robotic prototypes.

Position Scope and Job Functions
1.Rapid Prototyping and Mechanical Design: Design mechanical components and assemblies using CAD tools. Fabricate and modify prototype components using 3D printing and other rapid-prototyping and basic fabrication techniques. Rapidly iterate mechanical designs based on laboratory and user testing.
2.Electromechanical Systems: Select, characterize, and integrate actuators, motors, encoders, force/torque sensors, position sensors, cameras, and other robotic components. Develop basic electrical interfaces, wiring, power distribution, and supporting electronics required for prototype robotic systems.
3.Embedded Systems Development: Design and implement embedded control and data-acquisition systems using microcontrollers and embedded computing platforms such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or similar devices. Develop embedded software and interfaces for sensors, actuators, motors, and other electromechanical components.
4.Hardware/Software Integration: Integrate mechanical, electrical, embedded, and software subsystems into functional robotic prototypes. Diagnose and resolve problems spanning multiple engineering disciplines. Develop integration procedures and systematically troubleshoot system-level performance.
5.Robotics Software Development: Design, implement, test, and maintain software for robotic and electromechanical systems. Develop real-time and near-real-time applications primarily using C++. Integrate software with sensors, actuators, embedded controllers, cameras, and other robotic hardware.
6.Testing and Evaluation: Develop and execute test plans to characterize robotic system and subsystem performance. Develop test fixtures, data-collection tools, and analysis methods as necessary. Document system requirements, test procedures, results, limitations, and recommended design improvements.
7.Rapid R&D Execution: Work effectively on small, entrepreneurial, multidisciplinary teams developing new robotic capabilities under aggressive schedules. Support rapid design-build-test-learn cycles and demonstrations to sponsors and end users. Be comfortable moving between software development, hardware development, laboratory testing, and field experimentation as program needs evolve.
8.Technical Communication: Clearly communicate system designs, technical results, tradeoffs, risks, and recommendations to multidisciplinary technical teams, program leadership, sponsors, and collaborators. Contribute to technical reports, presentations, proposals, and other program documentation

Travel will be very limited. 1-2/year and only domestic, but there is opportunity for more if interested.

Work Schedule:
Hybrid with 3 days onsite. Final schedule will be TBD by the HM.
 

Degree Level
Bachelor's Degree	Yes
Experience
3D Printing	5 years
Independently solve technical problems and deliver functional systems on tight schedules	5 years
Human Resources
Hands-on experience designing and implementing online and blended learning solutions	5 years
Mechanical
Development of robotic, mechatronic, automated, or other complex electromechanical systems	5 years
Selecting & integrating actuators, motors, sensors, controllers, & other electromechanical component	5 years
Programming
Software development languages (python, golang, or C++)	5 years
Soft Skills
Strong Verbal and Written Communication	Yes
Software
AutoCAD	5 years
Experience integrating software with physical hardware is essential.	5 years
Software Development for microcontrollers or embedded computing platforms	5 years
Systems
Diagnose and Troubleshoot Issues	5 years
Integrate/troubleshoot systems (comps, embedded cont., sensors, actuators, elect., mech. components)	5 years
Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or comparable platforms and common hardware comm. interfaces & Protocols	5 years
Nice to Have
Engineering
Designing GUIs for robotic, scientific, or engineering applications	0 years
Robotics comm. interfaces & protocols (serial communications, CAN, Ethernet, USB, SPI, and I2C)	0 years
Mechanical
Mechanical design, machining, or fabrication	0 years
Medical/Surgical/Rehabilitation Robotics	0 years
Medical Device Development	0 years
Programming
Python for image processing, computer vision, sci. computing, test automation, or data analysis	0 years
Software
Experience developing real-time or performance-critical software and control systems	0 years
Software Tools
Experience with computer-vision and image-processing libraries and techniques	0 years
Systems
Designing electronics, PCBs, wiring harnesses, or electrical interfaces for prototype systems	0 years
Windows Application Development (MFC), Windows APIs, or similar technologies)	0 years