Fellow position in Robotics Engineering for Navigation with Legged Robots

IIT; Genova; Hybrid; EUR 21,000 - 25,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Private health care coverage

Tax deduction benefits for research

Job summary

IIT – Dynamic Legged Systems Research unit in Genova, Italy, seeks a motivated engineer to develop navigation and exploration techniques for quadruped robots. You will work in a multidisciplinary team with control, software, mechanical and electrical engineers to advance robotic locomotion and perception.

The role involves implementing autonomous navigation, perception, and terrain analysis for quadruped robots, with hands-on field and lab tests, using LiDAR, cameras, and IMUs.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, or Electrical/Electronic Engineering.
• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python.
• Experience with ROS/ROS 2 and robotic software development.
• Experience with legged robots.
• Experience developing and integrating algorithms for robotic perception, navigation, or autonomous exploration.
• Familiarity with robotic sensors, such as LiDAR, RGB-D cameras, and IMUs.
• Good experience with Git.
• Good experience with Linux OS.
• Strong knowledge on robotics.
• Good communication skills and ability/willingness to integrate within a multidisciplinary international research group.
• Good command in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement autonomous navigation and exploration algorithms for quadruped robots operating in complex, unstructured, and dynamic environments.
• Design and integrate perception, localization, and mapping solutions using onboard sensors, including LiDAR, cameras, and IMUs.
• Develop terrain analysis, traversability estimation, and obstacle avoidance techniques for safe and reliable robot navigation.
• Perform experimental tests using the various quadruped robots of the DLS lab.
• Support field tests, lab indoor experiments and lab demonstrations.

Skills

C++

Python

ROS/ROS 2

Legged robots

Git

Linux

English

Education

Master’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, or Electrical/Electronic Engineering

Tools

ROS/ROS 2

Job description

Fellow position in Robotics Engineering for Navigation with Legged Robots

Italy

Project: “Sistemi Cibernetici Collaborativi – Robot Teleoperativo 3” (Collaborative Cybernetic Systems – Robotic Teleoperation 3) – INAIL Project

CUP: J53C24000520005

Commitment & contract: collaboration contract, fixed term

Location: Genoa, Italy

Step into a world of endless possibilities, together let’s leave something for the future!

At IIT, we are committed to advancing human-centered Science and Technology to address the most urgent societal challenges of our era. We foster excellence in both fundamental and applied research, spanning fields such as neuroscience and cognition, humanoid technologies and robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and material sciences, offering a truly interdisciplinary scientific experience. Our approach integrates cutting-edge tools and technology, empowering researchers to push the limits of knowledge and innovation. With us, your curiosity will know no bounds.

We are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering diversity in all its forms, creating an inclusive environment. We value the unique experiences, knowledge, backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives of our people. By embracing diversity, we believe science can achieve its fullest potential.

THE ROLE

You will be working in a multicultural and multi-disciplinary group, where control experts, software, mechanical and electrical engineers collaborate, each with their own expertise, to carry out common research.

The Dynamic Legged Systems Research unit (web: http://dls.iit.it ) is coordinated by Claudio Semini, who has extensive experience in the design and control of robots applied to Disaster Response, Agriculture and Space Exploration.

The research focuses on locomotion over rough terrain, foothold planning, whole-body control, perception, loco-manipulation, machine learning, as well as the development of the next generation quadruped robots.

For this position, we are looking for a highly motivated and proactive engineer, with expertise in robotics, to work on the development of navigation and exploration techniques for quadruped robots.

Within the team, your main responsibilities will be to:

• Develop and implement autonomous navigation and exploration algorithms for quadruped robots operating in complex, unstructured, and dynamic environments.


• Design and integrate perception, localization, and mapping solutions using onboard sensors, including LiDAR, cameras, and IMUs.


• Develop terrain analysis, traversability estimation, and obstacle avoidance techniques for safe and reliable robot navigation.


• Perform experimental tests using the various quadruped robots of the DLS lab.


• Support field tests, lab indoor experiments and lab demonstrations.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• A Master’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, or Electrical/Electronic Engineering


• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python.


• Experience with ROS/ROS 2 and robotic software development.


• Experience with legged robots


• Experience developing and integrating algorithms for robotic perception, navigation, or autonomous exploration.


• Familiarity with robotic sensors, such as LiDAR, RGB-D cameras, and IMUs.


• Good experience with version control (Git)


• Good experience with Linux OS


• Strong knowledge on robotics


• Good communication skills and ability/willingness to integrate within a multidisciplinary international research group


• Good command in spoken and written English

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

• Good knowledge of SLAM, visual or LiDAR odometry,


• Good knowledge of multi-sensor fusion, and deep learning techniques for robotic perception.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• A yearly gross salary ranging between 21.000,00 and 25.000,00 euro,


• Private health care coverage depending on your role and contract


• Candidates from abroad or Italian citizens who have carried scientific research activity permanently abroad and meet specific requirements, may be entitled to a deduction from taxable income of up to 90% from 6 to 13 years.

Application deadline: 21st October 2026