Research Assistant (Computational Design for Robotic Assembly)

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

National University of Singapore is seeking a Research Assistant to lead the design of robot-friendly structural systems and to develop the computation pipeline that converts designs into assembly data for robotic planning. The role sits in the Constructive Machines Laboratory within the Civil and Environmental Engineering department.

The candidate will work with robotics and design teams, creating reusable components and libraries for autonomous construction and validating designs with physical

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Rhino

Grasshopper

Python

COMPAS

Prototyping

Robotics interest

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture/Structural Engineering or related

Master’s degree in computational design or related area (pref.)

Tools

COMPAS framework

Digital fabrication tools

Job description

Job Title: Research Assistant (Computational Design for Robotic Assembly)

University‑Level Unit: College of Design and Engineering

Faculty/Department‑Level Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering

Employee Category: Research Staff

Location_ONB: Kent Ridge Campus

Posting Start Date: 23/09/2026

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.