Research Engineer III (Robotics)

Location: Bryan, Texas; onsite work involving system experimentation and field testing at the RELLIS campus. U.S. citizenship is required.

Salary: $5,084.33–$9,166.67 per month, commensurate with experience.

Company

Texas A&M University System conducts education and research, commercializes technology, and delivers services through its universities, agencies, and campuses.

What you will do

• Design, implement, and maintain software for multi-agent coordination, task allocation, decentralized path planning, and coordinated vehicle behaviors.
• Develop efficient C++ and Python code for embedded hardware and ROS2-based distributed systems.
• Build communication protocols and data-sharing architectures for shared situational awareness across heterogeneous air and ground platforms.
• Optimize perception and navigation stacks and integrate sensors such as LiDAR, cameras, radar, and GNSS.
• Validate algorithms through simulation, hardware integration, deployment, demonstrations, and field testing with robotic vehicles and autonomous helicopters.
• Define experiment protocols and metrics, troubleshoot autonomy systems, and produce technical documentation, reports, presentations, and publications.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Four years of related experience.
• Advanced proficiency in modern C++ and Python for robotics and distributed systems.
• Ability to perform hardware-software integration and troubleshoot field-deployed systems.
• Must be able to obtain a U.S. Department of War Security Clearance.
• This security-sensitive position is restricted to U.S. citizens only.

Nice to have

• Experience with ROS2 or distributed middleware such as DDS, Zenoh, ZeroMQ, or Kafka.
• Knowledge of TCP/UDP networking, multicast, Linux development, robotic sensors, and autonomous software stacks.
• Experience with Isaac Sim or Gazebo for multi-level simulation and algorithm validation.
• Familiarity with Agile project management in a research and development context.

Culture & Benefits

• Health benefits, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Defined benefit retirement plan with employer contributions through the Teachers Retirement System of Texas.
• Optional defined contribution retirement plan and tax-deferred annuity options.
• Tuition assistance and wellness programs supporting work-life balance.
• Collaborative work with faculty, senior staff, and project leads on research and technology transition.