Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Multi-Robot Scouting

Corehr; Oxford; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford Robotics Institute in central Oxford seeks a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join the Dynamic Robot Systems Group for the TMNT project, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA). The role focuses on learning-based perception and multi-robot scouting for wheeled/legged systems, in both simulation and real robots, with collaboration across engineering disciplines.

You will contribute to multi-robot path planning, perception integration, and locomotion tasks in challenging

Qualifications

• PhD/ DPhil in robotics, computer science, machine learning, informatics or closely related field.
• Excellent academic track record in locomotion/manipulation, path and motion planning, or related areas.
• Experience working with real robots and strong teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, implement and evaluate multi-robot scouting methods for wheeled/legged systems in realistic simulations and on real robots.
• Develop learning and/or optimization-based approaches for multi-robot path and motion planning and coordination.
• Integrate multi-modal perception and online state estimation; address locomotion in challenging terrain and environment interaction/manipulation.

Education

PhD/ DPhil in robotics or closely related field

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Multi-Robot Scouting

central Oxford

We are seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join the Dynamic Robot Systems Group of the Oxford Robotics Institute and the Department of Engineering Science in central Oxford. This project is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and is and is fixed-term for 24 months.

The project “TMNT – Threat Monitoring Networked Team” will develop multi-robot scouting approaches to explore and interact with a set of challenging scenarios. This project is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and is in collaboration with Autodiscovery. TMNT will focus on a team of highly mobile Unitree A2 legged/wheeled robots, equipped with manipulators, sensing and networking payloads. The project will build approaches to collaborative exploration to enable efficient mapping and monitoring of a previously unknown environment. The scenarios range from planetary exploration, with a deployment planned for the ESA Luna Facility, to industrial and commercial settings. This position will focus on using and developing learning-based perceptive approaches.

You will develop learning and/or optimization based approaches to multi-robot path and motion planning and coordination, integrating multi-modal perception and online state estimation. Part of the project will include locomotion in challenging terrain and interaction/manipulation with the environment. You will be responsible for the design, development, implementation and evaluation of multi-robot scouting methods suitable for wheeled-legged systems in physically-realistic simulated environments and on real robots.

You will hold or be close to completion of a PhD/DPhil in robotics, computer science, machine learning, informatics, AI, or a closely related field. You will have an excellent academic track record in topics relevant to locomotion and manipulation; path and motion planning, whole-body control, multi-contact manipulation/locomotion, machine learning and optimization, avatar animation or related areas. You have experience working on real robots and great team working skills.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof Ioannis Havoutis (email: [e-mail]

For more information about working at the Department, see

www.eng.ox.ac.uk/about/work-with-us/

Only online applications received before midday on 30 September 2026 can be considered. You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, including a brief statement of research interests (describing how past experience and future plans fit with the advertised position), CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting women in Science, Engineering and Technology.

Robotics, legged/legged-wheeled, loco-manipulation, scouting, multi-robot coordination