Postdoc: Autonomous Mobile Manipulation

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

JPL is unique among NASA Centers in that its staff are Caltech employees, yet can access NASA technical resources. Cross-discipline teamwork is standard here: colleagues across JPL's science and engineering organizations and on Caltech's academic campus often work together. Learning to speak and understand other disciplines' languages is a doorway to the creativity needed to do what has not been done before. JPL staff are encouraged to create mission concepts that address humanity's core questions through a combination of science and technology. They are supported in developing ideas into proposals and hardware, and in communicating funded missions' results to the scientific community and the broader public. JPL seeks to employ scientists and engineers who are passionate about lifelong learning and excited to both contribute to and lead team efforts. We emphasize the importance of partnering across discipline boundaries and creating a friendly, constructive work environment to overcome space exploration's challenges. The Postdoctoral scholars at JPL benefit from an informal mentoring network, an annual conference showcasing their results, a dedicated seminar series, exposure to diverse career paths, and social connections across the JPL and Caltech community for advice on housing, childcare, and other aspects of living in southern California.

 

JPL’s Maritime and Multi-Agent Autonomy group is interested in fielding a robotic system that has the ability to autonomously take detailed scans of geological structures using various sensors such as LiDAR and cameras from a rover. Of particular interest are high ceiling places and difficult to reach places – these would need appendages or drones to be accommodated on the rover for multiple deployment and stowage cycles to generate data from scanning multiple kilometers of structures. Precise poses and map generation to correlate the data into 3D maps as well as stratigraphic data are of interest.

To achieve this, the group is seeking a postdoc to conduct the following research:

• Investigate various electromechanical and autonomy capabilities to identify an optimal solution,

• Implement and test, and conduct field tests in mines.

 

Along with advances in electromechanical systems and autonomy, these technologies are laterally applicable to Lunar lava tubes and caves, Martian high slope regions, underground areas of interest etc., as well as applications such as astronaut support for Artemis, lander and or orbital assets in-space robotic inspection, and other comparable applications. The selected candidate will be part of a team developing a complete robotic system and be individually responsible for the development and operations of the subsystem responsible for reaching the high ceiling places and autonomously taking the scans. Candidate will contribute to field testing and generate publications.

 

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in engineering with an emphasis on robotics.

• Hands on experience in building eletromechanical systems including hardware design, electronics system design, software, and autonomy for mobility or manipulation.

• Multi-agent autonomy experience is a plus.

• Strong software development skills preferred.

• Strong CAD and mechanical design skills preferred.

• Experience with field testing robotic systems.

• Experience with independently debugging robotic system issues and conducting detailed demonstrations.

• Some background in artificial intelligence / machine learning is a plus.

• Experience with underground robotic systems is a plus.

• Experience working with systems in dark conditions is also a plus.

 

Applicants may be subject to additional program requirements by NASA. Postdoc positions are awarded for a minimum of one-year period and may be renewed up to a maximum of three years.

 

Candidates should submit the following to this site: CV, representative publications, contact information for three references, and a cover letter stating their research accomplishments and interests.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training. Hiring range for this job may be adjusted based on primary work location outside of Pasadena, California. This adjusted range will be provided to candidates by the Recruiter when applicable.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

$82,180 - $82,180

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

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The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.