Robotics Technologist III: Stochastic Planning and Control for Field Robotics

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Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

About the Role

We are seeking a Robotics Technologist III with advanced skills in motion control, planning, state estimation, and machine learning, as they apply to robotic systems for the Robotic Surface Mobility Group, part of the Robotic Mobility and Manipulation Section. The Robotics section develops, matures, and brings to space flight robotics technology for in-situ exploration of the solar system. The Section also provides robotics expertise for space flight hardware and software implementation along with mission operations support.

This role offers the opportunity to work with an enthusiastic multi-disciplinary workforce that originates and executes robotics technology development and space flight projects. The position is highly focused on addressing complex motion control, planning, and state estimation challenges across various active projects.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement constraint-aware motion planning and controls for multi-agent systems.
• Apply deep learning for perception-aware stochastic planning.
• Develop low-level algorithms utilizing model predictive control, reinforcement learning, and grid-based or sampling-based planning.
• Develop higher-level planning frameworks incorporating Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes (POMDP) and action selection using Monte Carlo Tree Search.
• Perform robust robot system integration work with the existing ROS2-based robot software stacks.
• Support field trials to evaluate autonomous navigation of robotic systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related discipline with a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience; a Master’s degree in a related discipline with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience; or Ph.D. in a related discipline with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.
• Experience developing uncertainty-aware motion planning and control systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in estimation theory, simultaneous localization and mapping, and sensor fusion.
• Proficiency in multi-agent planning and POMDP decision-making frameworks.
• Strong programming proficiency in Python, C, and C++.
• Experience developing and operating robot software stacks using ROS2.
• Experience operating and integrating hardware for robotic field expeditions.
• Strong communications skills and ability to work across teams.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with simulation tools for robotic development such as Gazebo, IsaacSim, or MuJoCo.
• Proficiency with modern machine learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) for training and deploying perception and vision models.
• Experience with compute optimization and GPU acceleration (e.g., CUDA, TensorRT) for real-time, onboard robotic processing.
• Familiarity with diverse sensing modalities (e.g., LiDAR, stereo cameras, IMUs) tailored for resource-constrained or GPS-denied environments.
• Experience in continuous integration and rigorous software testing methodologies (e.g., hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop) for autonomous operations.

Please provide contact information for three references.

Benefits

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave, and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits-eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

Pay

The typical full-time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California is $149,656 - $186,888. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job-related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.