Research Fellow (Whole-Body Control and Autonomy for Robotic Assembly)

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The National University of Singapore seeks a Research Fellow to lead the autonomy stack for legged mobile manipulators in the Constructive Machines Lab. You will integrate planning, perception, and hardware to enable autonomous construction tasks and forceful manipulation.

The role requires a PhD, strong publication record, and hands‑on experience with C++, Python, ROS/ROS2, and simulators (MuJoCo, Isaac Sim). Fixed term contract, Singapore-based lab environment, mentorship of juniors.

Qualifications

• PhD in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Strong background in whole-body control, loco-manipulation, or optimisation-based control of legged or floating-base robots.
• Evidence of a strong publication record in leading robotics journals and conferences.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python, with substantial experience in ROS or ROS 2.
• Hands-on experience deploying controllers on physical legged robots or mobile manipulators, including sim-to-real transfer.

Responsibilities

• Develop whole-body control and loco-manipulation methods for legged platforms performing forceful, bimanual assembly tasks.
• Lead the integration of planning, perception, and control into a coherent autonomy stack.
• Establish the lab's shared hardware and software infrastructure, including simulation environments, software architecture, code review practices, and experimental facilities.
• Provide technical guidance to Research Assistants, PhD and Master's students within the group.
• Manage research project progress, grant administration, and finance.
• Publish research findings in leading robotics journals and conferences.

Skills

C++

Python

ROS/ROS2

Whole-body control

Loco-manipulation

Team leadership

Education

PhD in Robotics/related field

Tools

MuJoCo

Isaac Sim/Lab

Drake

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 Fellow position in the Constructive Machines Lab. 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 legged 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 Research Fellow will serve as the technical lead across the full autonomy stack, integrating planning, perception, and hardware into working demonstrations, while pursuing a research focus on whole-body control for legged mobile manipulators performing forceful manipulation.

The Research Fellow is expected to:

• Develop whole-body control and loco-manipulation methods for legged platforms performing forceful, bimanual assembly tasks, including balance and contact-force management under external loading.
• Lead the integration of planning, perception, and control into a coherent autonomy stack, and demonstrate it on the lab's mobile manipulation platforms.
• Establish the lab's shared hardware and software infrastructure, including simulation environments, software architecture, code review practices, and experimental facilities.
• Provide technical guidance to Research Assistants, PhD and Master's students within the group.
• Manage research project progress, grant administration, and finance.
• Publish research findings in leading robotics journals and conferences.

Job Requirements

• Possess a PhD in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Strong background in whole-body control, loco-manipulation, or optimisation-based control of legged or floating-base robots.
• Evidence of a strong publication record in leading robotics journals and conferences.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python, with substantial experience in ROS or ROS 2.
• Hands-on experience deploying controllers on physical legged robots or mobile manipulators, including sim-to-real transfer.
• Experience with physics simulation and robotics simulation platforms such as Isaac Sim/Lab, MuJoCo, or Drake.
• Prior experience in construction robotics, assembly automation, or contact-rich manipulation is advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a technical team and to mentor junior researchers.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills.
• Open to fixed-term contract.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.