Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research in marine robotics with focus on trajectory planning, control, reference paths, and system modeling
• Stay current with planning/control approaches including MPC, MPPI, and other optimization- and sampling-based methods
• Develop and validate vessel dynamics models, including system identification and parameter estimation from simulation and field data
• Design planning/control methods that are robust to disturbances and uncertainty (wind/waves/current, model mismatch), including constraint handling and actuator limits
• Develop software for early-stage prototypes and proof-of-concept systems (strong experience with ROS2/ROS1, Python, C++)
• Run simulation studies and conduct target/field tests; evaluate robustness, stability, and tracking performance under realistic disturbances
• Work with localization/state information and integrate planning/control with vehicle interfaces and actuators
• Apply and leverage machine learning/AI concepts where relevant (e.g., learned models, prediction, learned cost components)
• Assist in documentation: papers, slides, and tech transfer material
• Participate in brainstorming activities and cross-functional collaborations related to autonomous vessel research

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Robotics Engineering, Naval Engineering, Machine Learning, Statistics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or similar
• Demonstrated experience in motion planning, reference trajectories, and control
• Demonstrated experience solving loosely defined research/engineering problems
• 2+ years coding in robotics-relevant tools/languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB, C/C++)
• Experience creating and using advanced control and motion planning methods
• Experience with machine learning algorithms and AI methodologies

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with robotics systems overall; familiarity with perception/tracking interfaces is a plus
• Experience with system identification, model calibration, or data-driven dynamics modeling
• Experience with robust/adaptive control or uncertainty-aware MPC formulations (e.g., disturbance observers, constraint tightening), as applicable
• Familiarity with marine robotics and USV/ASV challenges (environmental disturbances, sensing limitations, operational constraints)
• Experience programming within Unix-based operating systems (e.g., Linux)
• Programming in Python, ROS1/ROS2, and observer/state-space modeling concepts