Assistant Research Scientist (PREP0005093) - #Faculty

Johns Hopkins University; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University seeks a PREP Research Associate to advance robotic software architectures and hardware interfacing within NIST collaboration efforts in Gaithersburg, MD. The role focuses on ROS 2, C++, Java, and PLC integration across real and simulated environments.

You will design, test, and document software bridges between high-level control and industrial hardware, contributing to cross-disciplinary research and education opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in CS/Robotics/CE/EE/SE.
• Hands-on experience developing software in the ROS 2 ecosystem.
• Experience with PLC programming for industrial automation.
• Experience interfacing high-level controllers with industrial hardware.
• Proficiency in C++ and/or Java; Python proficiency also desirable.
• Strong understanding of ROS 2 nodes, topics, services, actions, and message types.
• Experience with Linux/Unix (Ubuntu) and Windows; version control (Git).

Responsibilities

• Develop, integrate, and maintain scalable robotic software architectures using ROS 2, C++, Java, and C#.
• Implement Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programming and design system interfaces to bridge high-level autonomous logic with industrial physical hardware and sensors.
• Build robust device drivers, communication protocols, and APIs to ensure seamless software interoperability and execution across diverse robotic platforms.
• Conduct hands-on system testing, debugging, and performance optimization on real physical hardware and simulated environments to ensure reliable operation.
• Document codebase architectures, write system user guides, and present regular project progress updates to team members and project leads.

Skills

ROS 2

C++

Java

C#

PLC programming

Linux/Unix

Windows

Python

Git

OOP

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in CS/Robotics/CE/EE/SE

Tools

Git

GitHub

GitLab

Bitbucket

Job description

PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.

Research Title: Robotics Programmer

The work will entail:

NIST is focused on the development and integration of robotic software architectures, leveraging ROS2, Java, C#, and C++ to build scalable control frameworks. The work will involve designing robust system interfaces and implementing PLC programming to bridge high-level logic with physical hardware, ensuring seamless interoperability and performance across diverse robotic platforms.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Develop, integrate, and maintain scalable robotic software architectures using ROS 2, C++, Java, and C# in collaboration with NIST researchers.

• Implement Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programming and design system interfaces to bridge high-level autonomous logic with industrial physical hardware and sensors.

• Build robust device drivers, communication protocols, and APIs to ensure seamless software interoperability and execution across diverse robotic platforms.

• Conduct hands-on system testing, debugging, and performance optimization on real physical hardware and simulated environments to ensure reliable operation.

• Document codebase architectures, write system user guides, and present regular project progress updates to team members and project leads.

  • US Citizens preferred.

  • Education: Bachelor's degree or Master's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.

  • Hands-on experience developing software applications within the ROS 2 ecosystem.

  • Understanding of robotic nodes, topics, services, actions, and custom message types.

  • Strong proficiency in C++ and/or Java.

  • Proficiency or working experience with C# and Python.

  • Experience with PLC programming (e.g., Ladder Logic, Structured Text, or Function Block Diagrams) for industrial automation.

  • Experience interfacing high-level controllers with industrial hardware (e.g., actuators, relays, safety systems, fieldbus protocols).

  • Proficient with version control systems and workflows (e.g., Git, GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket).

  • Experience working in Linux/Unix (Ubuntu) environments as well as Windows.

  • Solid grounding in object-oriented programming (OOP), software testing, and debugging strategies.

Salary: $70,000-$75,000 a year

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)

Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) (https://www.nist.gov/iaao/academic-affairs-office/nist-professional-research-experience-program-prep) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate the administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

Total Rewards

Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors or demographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Pre-Employment Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at [e-mail]. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations at Johns Hopkins University for disabilities, medical conditions (including medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), accessibility, or religious reasons, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.

Background Checks

After receiving a conditional offer, the successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check including education verification. When deciding whether a candidate's conviction history is job-disqualifying, the University considers the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job being sought.

EEO is the Law

https://www.eeoc.gov/employees-job-applicants

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine.

Exceptions to the seasonal flu vaccine or COVID-19 vaccine (for SOM) requirement(s) may be provided to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs or medical conditions that preclude them from receiving the vaccine. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional vaccine requirements may apply, depending upon your campus. Please contact the hiring department for more information.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those candidates who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

Job Type: Full Time