Engineer– Embodied AI Lab Automation: Vision-Guided Real Time Robotic Manipulation

Brookhaven National Laboratory; Upton (NY); On-site; USD 71,900 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

Brookhaven National Laboratory is seeking an engineer to develop an automated protein crystal harvesting system. This hands-on role at the National Synchrotron Light Source II focuses on vision-guided robotic manipulation to handle fragile protein crystals.

The position offers a competitive salary range of $71,900–$119,000 per year based on qualifications, alongside benefits such as health insurance and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Strong programming skills in Python and/or C++.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing robotics systems.
• Knowledge of robotic systems, including kinematics and motion planning.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement vision-guided real-time robotic manipulation methods for crystal harvesting.
• Collaborate closely with domain experts across crystallography and engineering.
• Document methods and contribute to reports and publications.

Skills

Programming skills in Python and/or C++

Experience developing and implementing robotics systems

Knowledge of kinematics and motion planning

Education

B.S. in Robotics, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

Tools

ROS2

MoveIt2

Job description

Brookhaven National Laboratory’s National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS‑II) is seeking an engineer to develop an automated protein crystal harvesting system at the Center for BioMolecular Structure (CBMS). This 2‑year term position offers the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding availability. The successful candidate will develop vision‑guided robotic manipulation capabilities for detecting, tracking, and harvesting fragile micron‑scale protein crystals suspended in liquid droplets, working closely with a multidisciplinary team of crystallographers, beamline scientists, controls engineers, mechanical engineers, and data scientists. This hands‑on role focuses on building and deploying closed‑loop perception, visual servoing, and robotic control systems in a real laboratory environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement vision‑guided real‑time robotic manipulation methods for crystal harvesting.
• Design and deploy closed‑loop perception and control pipelines using visual feedback.
• Contribute to vision‑based servoing approaches for precise, real‑time positioning.
• Integrate perception outputs with motion planning and execution using ROS2 and MoveIt2.
• Perform system calibration (hand‑eye calibration, camera calibration) to ensure accurate 3‑D spatial alignment.
• Evaluate and improve system robustness, including perception uncertainty and failure modes.
• Collaborate closely with domain experts across crystallography, controls, and engineering.
• Participate in system testing, tuning, and performance evaluation.
• Document methods and results; contribute to reports, publications, and presentations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• B.S. in Robotics, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing robotics systems.
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or C++.
• Knowledge of robotic systems, including kinematics, coordinate transformations, motion planning, trajectory generation, and calibration methods.
• Must possess a REAL‑ID or REAL‑ID‑compliant identification to access Brookhaven National Laboratory.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE UPIV credential.
• Must complete all degree requirements by the commencement of employment.
• Position is on‑site in Upton, New York.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• M.S. in Robotics, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience developing robotic systems that integrate vision‑guided control in real‑world settings.
• Experience working with ROS2‑based ecosystems.
• Experience with camera calibration, hand‑eye calibration, and coordinate frame registration.
• Experience integrating machine learning models into robotics.
• Familiarity with micro‑manipulation, sensor fusion or state estimation, real‑time system debugging, and performance tuning.

Success Looks Like

• Development of a system capable of reliably detecting and localizing protein crystals.
• Implementation of closed‑loop robotic manipulation using visual feedback.
• Improved robustness and reliability of the crystal harvesting process under real‑world conditions.

Benefits

• This is a multi‑level role with a base salary range of $71,900–$119,000 per year, determined by experience and qualifications.
• Employee benefits include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other standard BNL benefits.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action

Brookhaven Science Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a respectful and collaborative environment. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. Individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.