NIWC - Graduate Student I - UAV/ Robotic Design, Development, and Integration Project (Task No. 43-0626008)

Responsibilities

• Assist with the conceptual and detailed design of UAV airframes using CAD software.
• Aid in the development of autonomous flight control algorithms, including path planning, obstacle avoidance, and decision-making systems.
• Contribute to the development of ground control systems for UAV operation and monitoring.
• Aid in the development of AI-based solutions for enhancing autonomy, including machine learning techniques for real-time decision making.
• Assist in the development of communication systems for UAV-to-UAV and UAV-to-ground station data transmission.
• Develop and sustain software for UAV/Robotic control and mission planning, ensuring robust and secure operation.
• Aid in ensuring UAV/Robotic compliance with relevant safety and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Under general direction, must be enrolled in a masters degree program related to the required discipline requested on the task order statement of work.
• Minimum Qualifications: Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field with coursework or experience relevant to UAV design and development.
• Desired Coursework And/or Relevant Work Experience: UAV Design and Development, Autonomous Systems Control Systems Engineering, Robotics, AI and Machine Learning, Sensor Integration, Computer Vision, Embedded Systems, Power Systems.
• Desired Experience: with CAD software for UAV design (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA), proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, or MATLAB, knowledge of AI/ML techniques applied to autonomy, familiarity with UAV simulation tools (e.g., Gazebo, ROS), experience with UAV flight control systems and autopilot software (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot), experience in integrating hardware and software components into UAV systems, experience with communication protocols for UAV systems (e.g., MAVLink), strong analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to work independently and in team settings.