NIST PREP Robotics and Perception Systems Engineer
SURA is a nonprofit consortium of 57 member universities that advances collaborative scientific research and education, operates research programs and staffing initiatives, and participates in operating Jefferson Lab through the SURATech joint venture.
About Southeastern Universities Research Association
Established in 1980 to pursue construction and operation of the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility, SURA now supports large-scale scientific collaboration, talent development, space-science programs, NIST research opportunities, and the operation of Jefferson Lab through SURATech with Virginia Tech.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will conduct experiments on 3D vision systems and analyze their performance for manufacturing and automation applications. You will program collaborative robot arms, use metrology and analysis tools, design tooling and fixtures, document best practices, and contribute to reports and peer-reviewed publications.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, or be in the final or penultimate year of a bachelor's or master's program
- Experience working with robotic systems such as robot arms or mobile manipulators
- Experience with CAD software such as SolidWorks
- Experience using MATLAB and Python
- Basic understanding of PyTorch and TensorFlow
- Programming experience in C++ or Java
- Experience using 3D printers
- Basic understanding of 3D sensors such as LiDAR or RGBD cameras
- Basic understanding of Unix/Linux operating systems
- Working knowledge of 3D point-cloud data processing techniques, CloudCompare, or similar tools
Responsibilities
- Conduct experiments using existing and novel test methods for 3D vision systems
- Research how object properties and sensor settings affect test metrics
- Program collaborative robot arms for automation tasks
- Use metrology systems to establish reference measurements
- Analyze results and produce visualizations using analysis software
- Write reports and contribute to peer-reviewed publications
- Work with commercial bin-picking systems
- Develop demonstrations for trade shows and conferences
- Perform market research for laboratory purchases
- Design parts, end-of-arm tooling, and fixtures using CAD software
- Coordinate fabrication of parts with NIST and external resources
- Record knowledge and best practices to improve efficiency and productivity