Assistant Professor of Robotics Engineering

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; Needham (MA); On-site; USD 91,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical options

Dental

Vision

Life and AD&D Insurance

403(b) Retirement Plan with match

Paid family medical leave

Paid holidays

Free parking

HSA options

FSA options

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering seeks an Assistant Professor of Robotics Engineering for Needham, MA. The role focuses on advancing research and teaching in robotics and artificial intelligence with emphasis on human-centered engineering.

You will mentor students, design curricula, and contribute to the college community with scholarly impact. This in-person position involves developing projects, advising up to 12 students per year, and collaborating across college initiatives to enhance

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field.
• Experience with robotics systems including mechanical, electrical, and computation.
• Experience in AI/ML applied to robotics and human-robot interaction.
• Exposure to real-time control, safety, and human-centered design.
• Proven research record in peer-reviewed venues.

Responsibilities

• Advance research and teaching in robotics and AI with a human-centered focus.
• Mentor students and guide undergraduate/graduate research projects.
• Develop innovative curricula and contribute to degree requirements.
• Teach 1–2 courses per semester and advise up to 12 students yearly.
• Serve on college committees and promote external scholarly impact.

Skills

Robotics system design

Circuit theory

Embedded electronics

AI/ML for robotics

Human-robot interaction

Control theory

Hands-on project-based teaching

Mentoring students

Research dissemination

Education

Ph.D. in Robotics/CS/EE/ME or related

Job description

Job Description

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering is seeking an Assistant Professor of Robotics Engineering for Needham, MA.

Duties

Assistant Professor of Robotics Engineering role focuses on advancing research and teaching in robotics and artificial intelligence with an emphasis on human-centered, value-driven engineering. The position involves conducting original research, mentoring students, and contributing to the development of innovative curricula. Faculty in this role teach, advise, and serve the College community while also achieving external impact through scholarship and professional contributions. Conduct research with a focus on designing human-compatible robotics and AI systems that create value for people. Hire, lead, and mentor students in robotics and AI research projects. Participate in college-wide research initiatives to promote work and encourage student engagement in robotics research. Teach one to two courses per semester designed to develop student engineering skills, with emphasis on robotics research. Advise up to 12 students per year on their academic progression. Share faculty responsibility for recommending curriculum content and structure, ascertaining degree requirements, and verifying fulfillment of graduation criteria. Serve on institutional committees and teams that help build and sustain Olin College, such as the Admissions Committee, Academic Review Board. Achieve external impact beyond Olin College through research dissemination, professional contributions, and teaching programs.
This is an in-person/on-campus position based in Needham, MA.

Requirements

Ph.D. (or foreign equivalent) in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field of study; One year of experience as an Assistant Professor, Teacher’s Assistant, Research Assistant, or postdoctoral Researcher or related occupation involving teaching, research, or equivalent academic experience in Robotics Engineering and Artificial Intelligence. Must have gained experience with the following (Experience may be gained concurrently with education):

• Robotics system design and engineering, including designing and integrating complete robotic systems that involve mechanical, electrical, and computational subsystems.
• Demonstrated experience with circuit theory, embedded electronics, sensors, and actuators for robotic applications.
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques applied to robotics including applying techniques such as perception, planning, and learning algorithms to autonomous and semi-autonomous robotic systems.
• Human-robot interaction, with emphasis on designing systems that support human needs and values.
• Experience designing intelligent systems grounded in human-centered design principles, including usability, safety, and effective human machine collaboration.
• Demonstrated experience with control theory and real-time systems for robotic applications including classical, modern, and learning-based control methods, with the ability to implement real-time control architectures for dynamic robotic platforms.
• Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating hands-on, project-based undergraduate learning experiences in engineering.
• Experience supervising and mentoring undergraduate or graduate students in laboratory, capstone, and research environments.
• Published research findings in peer-reviewed academic journals and conferences.

Wage/Hours

$107,077.23 per year (M-F/Full-time: 40 hours/week)

Company Description

Olin College of Engineering seeks employees who are passionate about working collaboratively within and outside of the Olin community to support the College’s mission and vision for the future. At Olin, we are educating the next generation of engineering innovators and shifting the definition of engineering. Not only do our students ask, “Who are we designing this for, and what are their values?” They also ask questions about the impact of their work on society. As Olin evolves under new leadership, we seek to become a more representative and aware community, a place where everyone is a learner and where everyone is an educator. Olin will become a place where experimentation-including making and learning from mistakes-will be embraced across the institution, not just in the classroom. Collaboration is key to Olin’s curriculum and culture, and we will work intentionally to reinforce the values and culture to which we aspire. We are a community that thrives on being together; we value trust. The College supports teams to collaboratively decide how they can best do their work, and display a commitment to the community, all while providing individuals with overall work-life flexibility.

Olin College is situated on 75 acres in Needham, Massachusetts. We are approximately ten miles from Boston, one mile from the MBTA Commuter Rail train station, and approximately four miles from the Woodland Station from the MBTA Green Line. We have plenty of free parking on campus. You can find more details on our Visiting Campus page. Olin College is committed to supporting an innovative, integrated learning and working environment. As a small campus, the in-person experience and cross-team collaboration is what helps build a strong, dynamic community for our students, faculty and staff. Typically, most roles at Olin College are intended to be in-person and on-campus. Certain paid positions may be eligible for flexible working arrangements, at the College’s sole discretion. Any approved remote work arrangement for pay must be performed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where Olin is registered to do business. Individual flexible and remote work options can be discussed during the interview process.

Benefits

• Medical (three different options)
• Dental
• Vision
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (company paid)
• Paid Family Medical Leave
• Long Term Disability (company paid)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with company match
• Liberal sick and vacation time and paid holidays
• Free parking

• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Business Travel Insurance
• Supplemental 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Travel Assistance Services (company paid)
• Pet Insurance

Please note that benefits are subject to change at any time.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

At Olin College we seek to become a more representative and aware community. If you’re excited about a role and have relevant experience, but your work history doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we'd nevertheless encourage you to apply.

Olin College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from candidates belonging to groups that have historically been underrepresented in higher education, including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA people, and people with disabilities. Employees of the College who have a disability are welcome to request reasonable accommodations by contacting Human Resources at [e-mail].