Research Assistant (Computational Design for Robotic Assembly)

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The National University of Singapore invites applications for a Research Assistant in the Constructive Machines Laboratory. You will lead the design of robot-friendly structural systems and work with the robotics team to turn designs into assembly data for the planning system.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's in Architecture or Structural Engineering; a Master’s in computational design or digital fabrication is preferred.

Qualifications

• At least a Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Structural Engineering, or a related field. A Master's degree in computational design, digital fabrication, or a related area will be preferred.
• Proficiency in Rhino and Grasshopper for parametric modelling of structural assemblies.
• Working knowledge of Python for computational geometry; experience with the COMPAS framework or comparable libraries is preferred.
• Hands-on experience with physical prototyping, digital fabrication, or workshop-based assembly work.
• Strong interest in robotics and automation in construction; prior exposure to robotic fabrication is advantageous.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team of roboticists, designers, and engineers.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and refine robot-friendly structural systems for graspability and reuse.
• Develop parametric models and the geometry-to-assembly-data pipeline.
• Build and document physical mock-ups and testbeds for full-scale validation.

Skills

Robotics interest

Independent & collaborative work

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Structural Engineering, or related field

Master's degree in computational design, digital fabrication, or related area

Tools

Rhino

Grasshopper

Python

COMPAS framework

Job description

Company description

The National University of Singapore is the national research university of Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest higher education institution in Singapore

Job Description

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS) invites applications for one (1) Research Assistant position in the Constructive Machines Laboratory. The lab builds robotic systems that autonomously build structures and studies the two-way relationship between how a structure is designed and how it is built. Its current focus is a team of mobile manipulators that transport and assemble scaffolding systems, temporarily support unstable partial assemblies, and progressively turn the structure-in-progress into navigable space for themselves.

The successful candidate will lead the design side of this loop. Working closely with the robotics team, the Research Assistant will develop robot-friendly structural systems — reusable bar-and-coupler assemblies, connection details, and element libraries — that robots can grasp, position, and connect autonomously, and will build the computational pipeline that turns these designs into assembly data for the planning system.

The Research Assistant is expected to:

• Design and iteratively refine robot-friendly structural systems, with attention to robotic graspability, assembly tolerance, reversibility, and reuse across projects.
• Develop parametric design models and the geometry-to-assembly-data pipeline that connects structural design to the robotic planning system.
• Build, instrument, and document physical mock-ups and laboratory testbed assemblies used to validate the designs at full scale.

Job Requirements

• At least a Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Structural Engineering, or a related field. A Master's degree in computational design, digital fabrication, or a related area will be preferred.
• Proficiency in Rhino and Grasshopper for parametric modelling of structural assemblies.
• Working knowledge of Python for computational geometry; experience with the COMPAS framework or comparable libraries is preferred.
• Hands‑on experience with physical prototyping, digital fabrication, or workshop‑based assembly work.
• Strong interest in robotics and automation in construction; prior exposure to robotic fabrication is advantageous.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team of roboticists, designers, and engineers.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills.
• Open to fixed-term contract.