Research Engineer III

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Job Description

The System Offices is one of several system members within the Texas A&M University System representing one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a network of 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, nine state agencies, and the RELLIS Campus. The Texas A&M University System mission is to provide education, conduct research, commercialize technology, offer training, and deliver services for the people of Texas and beyond.

The System Offices, within the Texas A&M University System, provides an outstanding benefits package including, but not limited to: competitive health benefits; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; a defined benefit retirement plan to include an employer contribution through Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS); if applicable, a defined contribution retirement plan to include an employer contribution through an approved ORP vendor: additional voluntary tax deferred annuity (TDA) options; tuition assistance; and wellness programs to promote work/life balance.

Salary:

$5,084.33 - $9,166.67 per month commensurate with experience.

Job Description Summary:

The Research Engineer III independently applies advanced engineering principles to design and implement the core algorithms and software architectures that power our multi-agent systems. At the George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex (BCDC), the Research Engineer for Multi-Agent Autonomy develops next-generation autonomous systems that enable coordinated, heterogeneous fleets to operate in complex, unstructured environments. This research focuses on the integration of diverse platforms, ranging from tactical UTVs and military-grade UGVs to unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and autonomous helicopters. We aim to solve the fundamental challenges of multi-agent coordination and shared situational awareness, fostering the human-agent teaming essential for future mission success. By bridging the gap between sophisticated algorithms and real-world application, our team develops technologies that significantly enhance unit capabilities, mobility, and speed of action. We translate theoretical breakthroughs into field-demonstrated reality through System Experimentation and Field Testing using our multi-vehicle fleet in the diverse off-road terrain of the RELLIS campus.

Responsibilities:

- Designs, implements, and maintains software modules for multi-agent coordination, including task allocation, decentralized path planning, and coordinated multi-vehicle behaviors.

- Produces efficient code (Python/C++) subject to computational and resource constraints to function effectively on embedded hardware and within ROS2 middleware.

- Implements communication protocols and data-sharing architectures to support shared situational awareness across heterogeneous air and ground assets.

- Optimizes perception and navigation stacks for reliable operation across diverse hardware platforms (e.g., tactical UTVs, military-grade UGVs, and UAVs).

- Troubleshoots, debugs, maintains, and improves existing software and algorithms within the BCDC autonomy stacks.

- Develops and utilizes multi-level simulation environments to validate multi-agent strategies and algorithmic performance prior to field deployment.

- Conducts hardware exploration and sensor selection (e.g., LiDAR, cameras, Radar, GNSS) to define perception systems tailored to specific project and algorithmic requirements.

- Performs hands-on system hardware integration and tuning for perception, navigation, and coordination subsystems, ensuring hardware-software synergy.

- Tests and deploys programs, applications, and ROS2 nodes in simulation and on physical hardware platforms.

- Contributes to the development of software-hardware interfaces for new platforms, including autonomous helicopters and robotic ground vehicles.

- Independently designs real-world experiment protocols and corresponding metrics to evaluate the performance of complex multi-agent systems in unstructured environments.

- Participates in demonstrations to stakeholders, reviews and evaluates results, and establishes conclusions based on capability performance.

- Generates technical documentation, system requirements, and user manuals to aid future project developments and technology transition.

- Collaborates with faculty, senior staff, and project leads to translate high-level research goals into actionable software requirements.

- Contributes significantly to technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications.

Education and Experience:

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Four years of related experience.

Registration, Certifications, and Licenses:

- Must be able to obtain a U.S. Department of War Security Clearance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

- Advanced proficiency in modern C++ and Python for robotics and distributed systems.

- Ability to perform hardware-software integration and troubleshoot field-deployed systems.

- Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey technical Information clearly ta senior management.

- Strong technical writing skills for reports and publications.

- Highly collaborative and able to work in a team-based environment.

- Familiarity with principles of Agile project management in an R&O context.

- Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Strong understanding of R0S2 or similar distributed middleware (e.g., DDS, Zenoh, ZeroMQ, Kafka) and Linux-based development environments.

- Familiarity with networking fundamentals (TCP/UDP, multicast} and their application in distributed robotic communication.

- Familiarity with robotic sensor hardware (UDAR, Cameras, IMU, GNSS} and their Integration within autonomous stacks.

- Familiarity with multi-level simulation tools (e.g., Isaac Sim, Gazebo) for algorithmic validation.

Other Requirements:

This is a security-sensitive position and is restricted to U.S. citizens only. Only complete applications will be considered for employment at The Texas A&M System Offices. Incomplete job application data could result in your application being rejected without an option to reapply. A cover letter and resume may be required in addition to a completed employment application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.