Robotics Research Engineer

Are you driven to develop advanced robotics software to go beyond the state-of-the-art?

The Robotics (RBT) section of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) seeks to extend its team with a talented individual with strong interest and expertise in software development for robotics to support research, education, and valorization activities. RBT focuses on societal challenges in a range of emerging areas of robotics, including agrifood, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, construction, and automotive. Our expertise includes mobile robotics and robotic manipulation with industrial, tactile and soft robots.

About Us
The RBT section has been established in 2024 from the merging of robotics activities at the department of mechanical engineering of the TU/e. The section is a growing entity whose faculties are a balanced mix of young and experienced researchers with an international profile and more than twenty-year experience in the field of robotics. We actively engage in collaborative research with academic and industrial partners to create pioneering, innovative robotic solutions with strong societal and scientific impact. The section is uniquely positioned in the Brainport high-tech region around Eindhoven (http://brainporteindhoven.com), which is home to multiple leading international companies and startups. We research the fundamentals of autonomous and collaborative robotics in dynamic man-made environments and develop flexible, robust, and safe robots that can interact with people and other machines. Collaborative mobile and legged robots, surgical robots, and tactile and soft robotic manipulators are key examples of the robotics platform we design and employ. The domains of application include care and cure, construction, logistics, manufacturing, agrifood, services, and entertainment. We prioritize mentorship and career development, providing our staff with strong support and industrial collaboration opportunities. Currently, our section comprises 9 full-time and 3 part-time professors, and over 30 PhD candidates and postdocs. Our shared robotics lab is equipped with state-of-the-art mobile robots, fixed-based manipulators, motion capture and vision systems, supported by 6 technicians.

Position: Robotics Research Engineer
As Robotics Research Engineer, you will be focusing on algorithmic design, development, and deployment of robotics technologies. You will work collaboratively with MSc students, PhDs, PostDocs, programmers, technicians and professors to create and refine advanced software for mobile robots and robot manipulators. If you are a talented and driven robotics developer eager to improve the state-of-the-art in robotics and who is looking to make an impact in robotics automation, we encourage you to apply.

Robotics is an interdisciplinary domain of research and education, where materials, mechanical, and electrical engineering meet with the power of computer science to make physical machines artificially intelligent.

Our section currently has several specialized technicians providing support for research and education in mechanical and electrical design. We are now opening a position in programming and scientific computing for robotics to expand and improve the quality of our research and educational activities.

As a research engineer at RBT you will play a pivotal role ensuring quality and providing continuity in software development, across several projects. Robotics research activities within RBT include visuotactile perception, estimation, planning, control, learning, symbolic reasoning, data acquisition, hardware development for mobile robots, manipulators, soft robots, robot actuators, grippers and dedicated sensors. We work with several platforms (mobile robotics, robotics manipulation, teleoperation, human-robot interaction interfaces, VR/AR) and applications (healthcare, agrifood, logistics/material handling, manufacturing, inspection and maintenance).

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize algorithms and (open-source) software components for robotic systems using C/C++ and Python, and potentially other programming languages.
• Take part in exciting AI and robotics research projects, in close interaction with Postdocs, PhD students, engineering students and interns, supporting their programming efforts
• Be responsible for maintaining the key software packages used within the lab platforms and actively support their development and adaptation throughout the years, based on the research projects and educational needs. This includes also software documentation.
• Apply mathematical concepts, such as inverse kinematics/dynamics, search algorithms, optimization techniques, and machine learning, to address complex robotics challenges such as autonomous manipulation and locomotion.
• Enable system integration of various subsystems and components, ensuring seamless integration into existing systems and troubleshooting any compatibility or connectivity issues
• Develop software components for data logging from robot sensors, instruments and cameras to support robotics research
• Report on risks, issues and project progress

The following qualifications are requested:

• MSc degree + four years of robotics programming experience or a PhD degree in robotics or related fields (computer science, machine learning, computer vision, robot control)
• proven experience with programming of mobile robots and/or robotic manipulators (e.g., Linux and development pipelines)
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• proven experience with high-level (Python) and low-level programming (C/C++) for robotics, including build systems (cmake)
• proven experience with collaborative version control systems (GitLab/GitHub), code documentation (Doxygen), containerization (Docker)
• proven experience with embedded programming and robotics middleware such as ROS2
• Strong mathematical background, particularly in robot dynamics, optimization techniques (QP), linear algebra, and 3D geometry
• A go-getter mentality, enthusiastic about advanced robotics and its potential to impact industrial and societal challenges
• Be thorough and pay attention to details, while also contributing to a pleasant and open atmosphere
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Proficiency in English

Furthermore, some of the following qualifications would be highly appreciated:

• Proven experience with industrial communication standards (EtherCAT) and software communication protocols (ProtoBuf)
• Proven experience with GPU programming with focus on machine learning (PyTorch, TensorFlow, CUDA)
• Proven experience on distributed computing, network and multithreading
• Proven experience with OpenCV

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network in the Brainport Region Eindhoven. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station and city center. In addition, we offer you:

• A tailor-made career proposal will be considered given your experience and track record with the possibility of an immediate tenured position
• The opportunity to focus your career on supporting TU/e researchers and students on education, research or impact. You can develop your personal ambitions and objections within the strategic objectives of the university
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Scale 10 (min. €4,060 max. €5,331 gross per month). If you have a more senior profile, you will receive a tailor-made career proposal. A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• A dedicated mentoring program to help you get to know the university and the Dutch (research) environment
• Family-friendly initiatives are in place, such as the partner career support programto support accompanying partners, an international spouse program and sports facilities
• Benefitssuch as partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs, are in accordance with the collective labor agreement of the Dutch universities
• A Staff Immigration Teamis available for international candidates, as is – depending on your personal situation - a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility)
• An excellent technical infrastructure and on-campus sports facilities
• The start date of this position is flexible and in agreement with the candidate.

The design and realization of robotics systems requires a multi-disciplinarity approach. Within the RBT section, we strive for a fine balance between theoretical and practical aspects, aiming at developing systems to be used in realistic scenarios with realistic constraints, and tackling relevant industrial and societal needs. This vision is supported also by the successes of our student teams (e.g., Tech United, since many years world champion in the field of robot soccer) and via innovative research projects directly with our industrial partners and the creation of spin-off companies. Our expertise covers advanced sensing, control, planning, perception, knowledge representation, and hardware development for mobile robots and industrial, tactile, and soft manipulators. The research lines of the Robotics sections include (a) multimodal robot perception and world modeling, (b) robot control, planning, and learning, (c) teleoperation, haptics, soft robotics, and human-robot interaction, (d) robot modeling, simulation, and experimental validation, (e) robotic and autonomous systems design. The research of the Robotics section is targeted to a variety of robot types, including wheeled robots, legged robots, manipulators, and teams of robots. The section has a broad funding base and a strong track record in attracting industrial funding and international collaborations.

More information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more?

Questions regarding the scientific content can be directed to

• prof. René van de Molengraft (M.J.G.v.d.Molengraft@tue.nl),
• prof. Elena Torta (E.Torta@tue.nl),
• prof. Alessandro Saccon (A.Saccon@tue.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact Tanja van Waterschoot, HR Advisor, HRAdviceME@tue.nl.