Research Engineer III - Teamed Autonomy

About the role

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.

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.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Four years of related experience.
• Must be able to obtain a U.S. Department of War Security Clearance.

Skills

• 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 to 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 ROS2 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 (LiDAR, Cameras, IMU, GNSS) and their Integration within autonomous stacks.
• Familiarity with multi-level simulation tools (e.g., Isaac Sim, Gazebo) for algorithmic validation.

Benefits

The System Offices 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.

Pay

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