Postdoctoral Researcher: Safe AI for Autonomous Spacecraft

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Houston's NAIL Lab seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher for a NASA ECF project on safety-enabled onboard planning for autonomous spacecraft. The role focuses on physics-informed reinforcement learning, safety-critical control, and real-time embedded validation.

You will work on spacecraft dynamics, trajectory planning, and high-fidelity simulation, with emphasis on uncertainty handling and autonomous decision-making in deep-space environments.

Qualifications

• PhD in a closely related field is required or strongly preferred.
• Strong background in reinforcement learning, nonlinear/optimal control, or autonomous systems.
• Experience with safety-critical control and real-time/embedded implementation is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead physics-informed and safe reinforcement learning research.
• Develop control barrier functions and safety-critical control strategies.
• Advance spacecraft dynamics, trajectory planning, guidance, navigation, and control.

Skills

Reinforcement learning

Control theory

Autonomous systems

Spacecraft GNC

Embedded systems

Education

PhD in robotics, control, aerospace engineering, EE/CS

Tools

Hardware-in-the-loop

High-fidelity simulation

Job description

The University of Houston's NAIL Lab seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher for a NASA ECF project on safety-enabled onboard planning for autonomous spacecraft. The role focuses on physics-informed reinforcement learning, safety-critical control, and real-time embedded validation.

You will work on spacecraft dynamics, trajectory planning, and high-fidelity simulation, with emphasis on uncertainty handling and autonomous decision-making in deep-space environments.