Postdoctoral Robotics Researcher - 3D Scanning & Repair

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Houston seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Mechanical Engineering to advance an automated robotic system for surface damage detection and additive repair. The project combines 3D scanning, computational geometry, and collaborative robot control into an end-to-end pipeline—from scanning and damage detection through toolpath generation and robot-executed repair.

The postdoc will work across both the algorithms and hands-on robotics sides of the project, developing

Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or closely related field.
• Strong Python and C/C++ skills with hands-on research.
• Background in computational geometry and 3D data processing.
• Hands-on experimental research experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop algorithms for 3D surface damage detection and repair surface reconstruction.
• Program and operate a collaborative robot arm for scanning and material deposition.
• Implement calibration routines, coordinate transforms, and robot motion strategies.
• Conduct physical experiments to validate system performance on test specimens.
• Develop Python/C++ software tools for pipeline automation and operator interfaces.
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals and support proposal writing.

Skills

Python programming

C/C++ programming

Computational geometry

Experimental research

Robotics knowledge

Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering / Robotics / related field

Tools

ROS

Collaborative robot control

Job description

The University of Houston seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Mechanical Engineering to advance an automated robotic system for surface damage detection and additive repair. The project combines 3D scanning, computational geometry, and collaborative robot control into an end-to-end pipeline—from scanning and damage detection through toolpath generation and robot-executed repair.

The postdoc will work across both the algorithms and hands-on robotics sides of the project, developing