Postdoctoral Research Associate - Robotics and Navigation

Requisition Id16867

Overview:

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Robotics and Navigation who will focus on developing an autonomous underground exploration and mapping robotic platform. The successful candidate will (1) integrate heterogeneous sensors and onboard computing hardware; (2) develop methods for LiDAR-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), autonomous navigation, trajectory planning, and point cloud mapping; and (3) deploy the developed algorithms on a physical mobile robot operating in GPS-denied, low-light, and geometrically repetitive environments. The candidate will collaborate with multidisciplinary researchers in robotics, surveying, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence. This on-site position resides in the Building Envelope Materials Research Group in the Building Technologies Research Section, Buildings and Transportation Science Division, Energy Science and Technology Directorate, atOak Ridge National Laboratory(ORNL).

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Design and implement a modular ROS 2 software architecture for onboard sensing, autonomy, mapping, data logging, launch management, and configuration management.
• Develop and integrate ROS 2 drivers and hardware interfaces for LiDAR, inertial measurement units, RGB or stereo cameras, wheel odometry, survey-grade laser scanners, and additional sensing systems.
• Develop robust procedures for sensor calibration, coordinate-frame management, timestamp synchronization, and data acquisition across heterogeneous devices.
• Develop and evaluate multi-sensor localization and state-estimation methods that fuse LiDAR, IMU, camera, and wheel-odometry data in GPS-denied, low-light environments.
• Implement LiDAR-based or LiDAR-inertial SLAM, factor-graph or pose-graph optimization, loop-closure validation, drift estimation, and drift-correction methods for long trajectories in environments with limited and repetitive geometric features.
• Develop autonomous navigation capabilities, including path planning, obstacle avoidance, autonomous exploration, frontier selection, and localization-aware trajectory planning.
• Develop high accuracy point cloud registration and mapping workflows.
• Plan and conduct experiments on physical robotic systems.
• Establish quantitative measures for localization drift, mapping accuracy, and navigation reliability.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, and communicate findings through technical reports and presentations.
• Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in robotics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, or a closely related field obtained in the last five years.
• Demonstrated experience developing robotic systems using ROS 2.
• Hands-on experience integrating sensors, actuators, computing hardware, or communications interfaces on a mobile robotic platform.
• Demonstrated research or development experience in one or more of the following areas: automated controls, SLAM, autonomous navigation, or trajectory planning.
• Experience integrating hardware, deploying, and evaluating algorithms on physical robots.
• Proficiency in Python, modern C++, and Linux-based development environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with point cloud processing and registration using libraries such Open3D or equivalent.
• Experience with LiDAR-based or LiDAR-inertial SLAM, high-accuracy point cloud mapping, or scan-to-scan registration.
• Experience with ROS 2 navigation stack, lifecycle-managed nodes, TF2, rosbag workflows, and distributed system diagnostics.
• Experience with CUDA and deployment on NVIDIA edge-GPU platforms (Jetson Orin, Thor, or Spark).
• Experience calibrating and synchronizing LiDAR, IMU, camera, and wheel-odometry systems.
• Experience with underground, off-road, subterranean, or other unstructured-environment robotics and field testing.
• Experience with Docker for containerization and deployment.
• A strong publication record in robotics, controls, autonomous systems, sensor fusion, mapping, or a related area.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Special Requirements:

Applicants cannot have received their Ph.D. more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.

• Letters of Recommendation: Please submit two letters of recommendation when applying to this position. You may upload these directly to your application or have them sent to this position. You may upload these directly to your application or have them sent toPostdocrecruitment@ornl.govwith the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• • Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
  • View Profile
  • Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

• Security, Credentialing, and Eligibilty Requirements: For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.