Postdoctoral Associate -Robot Design / Fab

Drexel University; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 60,240 - 90,350; Full time

Job summary

Drexel University in Philadelphia invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics to advance bio-inspired underwater robotics, focusing on design, fabrication, and integration of multi-limbed swimming systems.

The position is grant-funded; responsibilities include mechanical design, integration of subsystems, supervising students, and contributing to proposals, conference presentations, and peer-reviewed publications.

Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field; equivalent mix of education and experience.
• 0-3 years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Mechanical design and development of bio-inspired robotic platforms for underwater operation.
• Lead fabrication, assembly, and iterative refinement, integrating mechanical, electrical, and sensing subsystems.
• Coordinate with modeling/control efforts to translate design requirements into physical systems and diagnose performance issues.
• Supervise undergraduate and graduate student research in robotic design and hardware development.
• Contribute to proposals, present findings at conferences, and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Mechanical design

CAD of assemblies

Fabrication & rapid prototyping

Underwater design

Sensor integration

Embedded systems familiarity

ROS/ROS2 familiarity

Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Job description

Job Summary

A postdoctoral position in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics is being offered to support research in bio-inspired underwater robotics, with a focus on the design, fabrication, and integration of multi-limbed swimming systems.

This position is grant-funded; employment is contingent upon the continued availability of those funds.

Essential Functions

• Mechanical design and development of bio-inspired robotic platforms, including structural components, actuation systems, and waterproofing strategies for underwater operation.
• Lead the fabrication, assembly, and iterative refinement of robotic systems, ensuring reliable performance in experimental environments, including integration of mechanical, electrical, and sensing subsystems into cohesive platforms for testing and validation.
• Work closely with modeling and control efforts to translate design requirements into physical systems and support experimental campaigns. Responsibilities also include diagnosing system-level performance issues, improving robustness, and enabling repeatable experimental operation.
• Supervise undergraduate and graduate student research related to robotic design, fabrication, and system integration, providing guidance on prototyping, testing, and hardware development.
• Contribute to the preparation of research proposals, present findings at conferences and technical meetings, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a PhD or Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering or related field or the equivalent combination of education and work experience (Please review the Equivalency Chart for additional information).
• Minimum of 0-3 years of experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong mechanical design experience for robotic systems, including CAD of complex assemblies.
• Hands-on experience with fabrication and rapid prototyping (3D printing, machining, composites).
• Experience designing for underwater operation (sealing, waterproofing, material selection).
• Familiarity with actuator selection and integration for multi-DoF systems.
• Experience integrating mechanical, electrical, and sensing subsystems.
• Experience with experimental testing, debugging, and iterative hardware development.
• Familiarity with embedded systems is desirable.
• Experience with ROS/ROS2 or similar frameworks is a plus.

Physical Demands

• Typically sitting at a desk/table
• Typically standing, walking

Location

• University City - Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information

This position is classified as Exempt, grade K. Compensation for this grade ranges from $60,240.00 - $90,350.00 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position will vary based on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.

Applicants are encouraged to explore the Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on Drexel's compensation framework. For information about benefits, please review Drexel's Benefits Brochure.

Job no: 507048

Work type: Full-Time

Location: University City - Philadelphia, PA

Categories: Drexel University, College of Computing and Informatics, College of Engineering

Advertised: Jul 29 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close: Aug 29 2026 Eastern Daylight Time