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

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

National University of Singapore invites applications for a Research Fellow in the Constructive Machines Lab to lead the full autonomy stack for legged mobile manipulators designing and assembling structures.

The role emphasizes whole-body control, planning- perception-control integration, and mentoring junior researchers within a dynamic robotics group. Located at Kent Ridge Campus, this on-site position advances cutting-edge robotic assembly research.

Qualifications

• PhD in Robotics, Mechanical Eng, EE, CS, or related field.
• Strong background in whole-body control or loco-manipulation.
• Strong publication record in robotics journals and conferences.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python with ROS/ROS 2 experience.
• Hands-on experience deploying controllers on legged robots or mobile manipulators.
• Experience with physics simulation platforms (Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, Drake).
• Experience in construction robotics or assembly automation is advantageous.
• Ability to lead a technical team and mentor junior researchers.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills.
• Open to fixed-term contract.

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, 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.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Research planning

Education

PhD in Robotics/Engineering/CS

Tools

ROS / ROS 2

C++

Python

MuJoCo

Isaac Sim/Lab

Drake

Job description

Job Title: Research Fellow (Whole-Body Control and Autonomy 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 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.