Research Engineer - Soft Robotics

Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich; Singapore; On-site; SGD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Healthcare insurance

25 days annual leave

NS mark certification

Job summary

The Singapore-ETH Centre is seeking a research-oriented engineer to develop soft robotic end‑effectors and manipulation subsystems for baggage handling. The role emphasizes hands‑on prototyping, fabrication, and testing within a multidisciplinary team at CREATE Tower, Singapore.

You will work across mechanical design, actuation, sensing, and control, collaborating with SUTD and partner institutions to deliver robust robotic solutions on real-world cargo holds.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in mechanical engineering, robotics, mechatronics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience building physical systems: prototyping, CAD, fabrication (e.g. 3D printing, machining, molding), electronics, or robot integration.
• Working knowledge of actuation, mechanism design, control, or embedded systems, and a willingness to grow across the full robotics stack.
• Prior research experience demonstrated through a Master’s thesis, research project, or equivalent work, with strong written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Develop soft robotic end-effectors and manipulation subsystems.
• Prototype, test, and iterate designs in hands‑on experiments.
• Collaborate with the SUTD-led consortium and partner institutions to integrate perception and planning work.

Skills

Hands-on prototyping

Actuation knowledge

Control systems

Embedded systems

Education

Master’s or PhD in mechanical engineering / robotics / mechatronics / electrical engineering

Tools

CAD

3D printing

Machining

Electronics

Job description

The Singapore-ETH Centre was established in 2010 by ETH Zurich - The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF), as part of the NRF’sCREATE campus. As ETH Zurich's only research centre outside of Switzerland, the centre has strengthened the research capacity of ETH Zurich to develop sustainable solutions to global challenges in Switzerland, Singapore and the surrounding regions.

The centre serves as an intellectual hub for research, bringing together principal investigators and researchers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. To promote the exchange of ideas and expertise, our researchers actively collaborate with universities and research institutes and engage with industry and government agencies to translate knowledge to practical solutions to real-world problems.

This position is part of Project Nyala, the Automated Loose Baggage Handling System for Narrow-Body Aircraft, funded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) under the Aviation Transformation Programme (ATP-Airport). A consortium led by the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), with SEC, NTU, and SIT as partner institutions, will develop a compact robotic system that automates the loading and unloading of loose baggage inside the cargo holds of narrow-body aircraft such as the A320 and B737. Today, ground handlers manually lift and stack bags of up to 32 kg in a space with less than 1.2 m of height clearance. The project will take the system from concept through digital modelling and simulation to TRL 3-4 physical prototypes, validated in are presentative cargo hold mock-up. The project runs for 30 months, from June 2026 to November 2028.

SEC leads the manipulation research within the consortium: dexterous manipulation concepts for irregular baggage, soft and hybrid end-effector architectures, adaptive grasping of deformable objects, concept validation and design trade studies, and system-level interface and integration. This is a builder’s role at its core. You will work across mechanical design, soft and compliant actuation, fabrication, electronics, and control to create complete manipulation subsystems, then iterate relentlessly through hands‑on experimentation until they perform in the real world.

A distinctive feature of this role is the direct collaboration with aviation industry partners and stakeholders, including Airbus, SATS, Changi Airport Group, and Singapore Airlines, translating cutting‑edge soft robotics technology into a system with immediate operational relevance.

You will take soft robotic end‑effectors and manipulation subsystems for baggage handling from concept to working prototype: conceiving the architecture, designing and fabricating grippers and compliant actuation elements, integrating sensing and control, and validating performance through systematic real‑world testing. Each design cycle feeds the next, so rapid prototyping, measurement, and iteration sit at the heart of the project.

Baggage is deformable, irregular, and heavy: bags of up to 32 kg that vary widely in size, shape, material, and fragility must be grasped, transferred, and stacked inside a hold with less than 1.2 m of clearance. You will engineer soft and hybrid end‑effectors, gripper and suction mechanisms, and adaptive grasping strategies that handle this diversity reliably, and validate them through design trade studies against the project’s performance, safety, and reliability targets.

You will combine hands‑on mechanical design, fabrication, and experimental testing with modeling, actuation, and control to deliver complete, functional manipulation subsystems across all four work packages, from concept development and sub‑system evaluation to system‑level integration, testing, and validation in the cargo hold mock‑up. Close, day‑to‑day collaboration with the SUTD‑led consortium is key to the project: you will integrate SEC’s end‑effector and grasping technology with the perception, planning, and platform work of the partner institutions to build a system that no single group could achieve alone. You will work within this multidisciplinary team and have access to a world‑class lab, state‑of‑the‑art fabrication facilities, and the broader robotics ecosystem at the SEC and the ETH Zurich Soft Robotics Lab (srl.ethz.ch).

This is an applied engineering role focused on implementation and impact. The primary deliverables are functional prototypes, integrated robotic subsystems, and engineering solutions that meet the project’s milestones and KPIs. Success in this role is measured by the quality and performance of the physical systems you build, not by the number of papers produced.

Profile

You are extremely curious, highly motivated, greatly independent, and you want to make a real difference with your research. You work best when you are in a team, you are respectful and thrive when you can collaborate with others and provide support. Through your prior experiences, you have ideally already shown your understanding and skills in:

• Master’s degree or PhD in mechanical engineering, robotics, mechatronics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience building physical systems: prototyping, CAD, fabrication (e.g. 3D printing, machining, molding), electronics, or robot integration.
• Working knowledge of actuation, mechanism design, control, or embedded systems, and a willingness to grow across the full robotics stack.
• Prior research experience demonstrated through a Master’s thesis, research project, or equivalent work, with strong written and spoken English.
• A bias toward action: you like to build, test, break, and iterate quickly rather than stay purely in simulation.
• Strong motivation for interdisciplinary, experimental research and the curiosity to develop new skills throughout the project.
• A collaborative, supportive mindset and the drive to make a real difference with your research.
• Background or interest in soft robotics, robotic grasping and manipulation, or bio‑inspired design is a plus. Experience with deformable object handling or confined‑space mechanisms is a further plus.

Workplace

We offer

• Accredited with 5 Tripartite Standards by Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) Singapore.
• A diverse workplace with 32 nationalities, offering ample opportunitiesfor mutual learning.
• Positive and inclusive working environment
• 25 days of annual leave for fixed‑term contracts
• 1 day of Birthday Leave
• Committed to being a supportive employer as you prioritize your physical and mental wellness
• Comprehensive healthcare insurance coverage
• Flexible hybrid work arrangement (up to 2 days per week from home)
• Accredited with NS mark certification

The Singapore-ETH Centre is an equal opportunity and family‑friendly employer. All candidates will be evaluated on their merits and qualifications, without regards to gender, race, age or religion.

In line with our values , ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate‑neutral future .

Curious? So are we.

Work location: 1 Create Way, CREATE Tower, Singapore 138602 (NUS University Town)

Contract Duration: 2 Years

Salary: Remuneration will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and relevant experience.

Positiontitle that could be offered are Researcher/Research Engineer/PostDoctoral Researcher.

Further information about The Singapore-ETH Centre can be found on our website: https://sec.ethz.ch/

The Singapore-ETH Centre provides a multicultural and interdisciplinary environment to researchers working on diverse themes focussed on sustainable and liveable cities, resilient urban systems, and patient‑centric healthcare. The centre is home to a community of over 100 doctoral, postdoctoral and professorial researchers working in three main programmes: Future Cities Laboratory, Future Resilient Systems, and Future Health Technologies.