Postdoctoral Scholar

Radiant Center for Remote Sensing at NAU; Flagstaff (AZ); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Radiant Center for Remote Sensing at Northern Arizona University is recruiting four Postdoctoral Scholars to contribute to UAV sensor development, embedded systems, lidar-based digital twins, and autonomous navigation. Roles involve software/hardware integration, simulations, and field testing in Flagstaff, AZ.

The positions emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, data analysis, and dissemination of results through reports, publications, and conferences.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship or green card holder.
• Ph.D. completed prior to start date.
• Experience conducting independent research and contributing in multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience developing software, algorithms, hardware, simulations, or sensing systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication with a record of publishing peer-reviewed research.
• Ability to take initiative and complete complex technical tasks with minimal supervision.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or willingness to obtain soon after hire.

Responsibilities

• Develop software and algorithms for autonomous sensing systems.
• Hardware integration of sensors and UAV platforms.
• Run simulations, modeling, and field experiments.
• Analyze complex datasets collected across diverse environments.
• Publish findings, present at conferences, and mentor students.

Skills

Python

C++

Autonomous systems

UAV testing

Sensor fusion

Education

Ph.D. in Engineering or related field

Tools

PX4

ArduPilot

Pixhawk

Cube

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Opportunities - NAU's Radiant Center for Remote Sensing

The Radiant Center for Remote Sensing at Northern Arizona University is recruiting four Postdoctoral Scholars to join an interdisciplinary team working simultaneously on several sponsored research projects spanning UAV sensor development, embedded systems, radio-frequency source localization, lidar-based digital twins, UAV swarm simulation, autonomous navigation, and intelligent sensing systems.

Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, the successful candidates will collaborate closely with faculty, engineers, and fellow researchers to design, develop, integrate, and validate advanced sensing and autonomous systems. Responsibilities include software and algorithm development, hardware integration, simulation and modeling, laboratory testing, UAV flight operations, field experiments, and analysis of complex datasets collected across diverse environments. Researchers will contribute to technical reports and sponsored research deliverables, publish scientific findings, present at conferences, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students while helping advance cutting-edge technologies in autonomous sensing and robotics.

Minimum Qualifications

U.S. citizenship or status as green card holder/ lawful permanent U.S. resident.

Ph.D. in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Informatics, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, or a closely related field, completed prior to the start date.

Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and contribute effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

Experience developing software, algorithms, hardware, simulations, or sensing systems relevant to one or more of the research areas listed above.

Strong written and verbal communication skills with a commitment to publishing peer-reviewed research and presenting scientific results.

Ability to take initiative and complete complex technical tasks with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated research experience in autonomous systems, UAV simulation, swarm optimization, digital twins, lidar data processing, or related technologies.

Experience with UAV hardware and software integration, including autopilot platforms such as PX4, ArduPilot, Pixhawk, or Cube.

Experience with RF systems, source localization, signal processing, controls, optimization, or estimation methods.

Experience with embedded systems, FPGA development, instrumentation, edge-computing platforms, or sensor-fusion architectures.

Experience with lidar, geospatial data, photogrammetry, or environmental sensing applications.
Proficiency in Python and/or C++.

Field research and UAV testing experience.

Record of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or willingness to obtain certification shortly after hire.

Position Details

Eligibility: Due to sponsored projects’ funding sources, these positions are open only to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders). Positions may require handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in accordance with sponsor and university data-security requirements, including technical data, hardware, or software subject to U.S. export control regulations; incumbents must be able to comply with applicable export control requirements and with project-specific technology control plans.
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Appointment: Full-time, on-site Postdoctoral Scholar positions
Salary: Starting at $70,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience
Travel: Travel to field sites and scientific conferences may be required.
Funding: Positions are contingent upon continued availability of project funding.
NAU is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disabled/Protected Veterans. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples. NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.