R&D Associate - Robotics and Navigation

Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN, is seeking an early-career R&D Associate in Robotics and Navigation to advance autonomous exploration and mapping on mobile robotic platforms. The role emphasizes integrating heterogeneous sensors, developing ROS 2 software, and deploying algorithms on real hardware in GPS-denied, low-light environments.

You will collaborate with cross-disciplinary researchers, contribute to the UT-ORII Convergent Research Initiative, mentor students, and publish

Qualifications

• PhD in robotics, mechanical, electrical, computer engineering or related field.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated experience with ROS 2.
• Hands-on experience integrating sensors and computing on mobile robots.
• Experience with SLAM, autonomous navigation, or trajectory planning.
• Proficiency in Python, C++, and Linux environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a modular ROS 2 software architecture for onboard sensing, autonomy, mapping, and data logging.
• Develop ROS 2 drivers and hardware interfaces for LiDAR, IMU, cameras, and wheel odometry.
• Develop and evaluate multi-sensor localization and state estimation methods in GPS-denied environments.
• Implement LiDAR-based SLAM and drift-correction for long trajectories.
• Plan and conduct experiments on physical robotic systems.

Skills

ROS 2

Python

C++

Sensor integration

Linux

Communication skills

Education

PhD in robotics/related field

Tools

Docker

Open3D

Jetson/ NVIDIA edge GPUs

Job description

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the largest US Department of Energy (DOE) science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. Within ORNL, the Building Envelope Materials Research Group develops and deploys affordable, energy efficient and resilient building envelopes for new construction and retrofits to enable DOE’s goals. Our synergistic research areas include building science, material and system development, and industrialized construction. With the support from the U.S. DOE Building Technologies Office, we have the most extensive building envelope research portfolio in the nation.

The Envelopes Group, in partnership with the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII), is seeking an early career engineer to contribute to groundbreaking research on robotics and navigation that is tailored for building construction with the goals of lessening the shortage in skilled labor, increasing productivity, improving quality, enhancing safety, and lowering cost. As an ORNL staff member, the successful applicant will be part of a team of ORNL researchers and university research faculty in a UT-ORII Convergent Research Initiative focused on the development of state-of-the‑art technologies for affordable manufacturing of energy-efficient, resilient buildings. In addition to being an ORNL staff member, since this role will be aligned with a UT-ORII convergent research initiative, you will also be considered a UT-ORII Fellow.

As an ORNL staff member and UT-ORII fellow, your career will develop in collaboration with researchers from both UT and ORNL through this early-career position at ORNL and with a Joint-Research Faculty (JFO) appointment at UT. As an integral part of the team, you will engage in a dynamic blend of activities. In addition to helping shape research programs, mentorship will be a key aspect of your role, guiding and inspiring graduate and undergraduate students. As a valued, early career researcher in both the ORNL Buildings and Transportation Science Directorate and UT-ORII, you’ll have access to a rich network of resources, including seminars, training opportunities, and collaborations that will propel your career forward.

We are seeking an R&D Associate in Robotics and Navigation with expertise in the development of autonomous exploration and mapping robotic platforms. The successful candidate should have strong background in (1) integration of heterogeneous sensors and onboard computing hardware; (2) development of methods for LiDAR-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), autonomous navigation, trajectory planning, and point cloud mapping; and (3) deployment of the developed algorithms on physical mobile robots operating in GPS‑denied, low‑light, and geometrically repetitive environments. The candidate will collaborate with multidisciplinary researchers in robotics, surveying, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence.

More About UT-ORII:

The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute is a partnership of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and UT created to prepare interdisciplinary leaders in energy, science, and technology and develop a world‑class workforce for industry, government, and academia that will drive innovation and create the industries of the future. More information is available at University of Tennessee - Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (utorii.com). Today’s energy economy is driven by disruptive technologies and swift change. The US is in a global competition for jobs, talent, and investment. To successfully compete, we must develop leadership talent in research and development (R&D), encourage entrepreneurship, and create an educational environment that promotes rapid innovation and attracts skilled professionals. Leveraging a 75‑plus‑year UT-ORNL partnership, UT and ORNL have developed joint institutes, joint facilities, interdisciplinary PhD programs, and comprehensive joint faculty arrangements, including 17 Governor’s Chairs recruited for the significance of their impacts in their fields. UT-ORII’s overall goal is to become a center for convergent research and talent development, helping maintain US prominence as a global innovation leader and providing tangible benefits to Tennessee.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct research on technologies that make new building construction and retrofits of existing buildings affordable, energy efficient, and resilient.
• Design and implement a modular ROS 2 software architecture for onboard sensing, autonomy, mapping, data logging, launch management, and configuration management.
• Develop and integrate ROS 2 drivers and hardware interfaces for LiDAR, inertial measurement units, RGB or stereo cameras, wheel odometry, survey‑grade laser scanners, and additional sensing systems.
• Develop robust procedures for sensor calibration, coordinate‑frame management, timestamp synchronization, and data acquisition across heterogeneous devices.
• Develop and evaluate multi‑sensor localization and state‑estimation methods that fuse LiDAR, IMU, camera, and wheel‑odometry data in GPS‑denied, low‑light environments.
• Implement LiDAR‑based or LiDAR‑inertial SLAM, factor‑graph or pose‑graph optimization, loop‑closure validation, drift estimation, and drift‑correction methods for long trajectories in environments with limited and repetitive geometric features.
• Develop autonomous navigation capabilities, including path planning, obstacle avoidance, autonomous exploration, frontier selection, and localization‑aware trajectory planning.
• Develop high accuracy point cloud registration and mapping workflows.
• Plan and conduct experiments on physical robotic systems.
• Establish quantitative measures for localization drift, mapping accuracy, and navigation reliability.
• Publish results in peer‑reviewed journals and conference proceedings, and communicate findings through technical reports and presentations.
• Contribute to the development of ideas and the assembly of proposals relevant to the UT‑ORII Convergent Research Initiative.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in robotics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, or a closely related field.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing robotic systems using ROS 2.
• Hands‑on experience integrating sensors, actuators, computing hardware, or communications interfaces on a mobile robotic platform.
• Demonstrated research or development experience in one or more of the following areas: automated controls, SLAM, autonomous navigation, or trajectory planning.
• Experience integrating hardware, deploying, and evaluating algorithms on physical robots.
• Proficiency in Python, modern C++, and Linux‑based development environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with point cloud processing and registration using libraries such Open3D or equivalent.
• Experience with LiDAR‑based or LiDAR‑inertial SLAM, high‑accuracy point cloud mapping, or scan‑to‑scan registration.
• Experience with ROS 2 navigation stack, lifecycle‑managed nodes, TF2, rosbag workflows, and distributed system diagnostics.
• Experience with CUDA and deployment on NVIDIA edge‑GPU platforms (Jetson Orin, Thor, or Spark).
• Experience calibrating and synchronizing LiDAR, IMU, camera, and wheel‑odometry systems.
• Experience with underground, off‑road, subterranean, or other unstructured‑environment robotics and field testing.
• Experience with Docker for containerization and deployment.
• A strong publication record in robotics, controls, autonomous systems, sensor fusion, mapping, or a related area.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated self‑starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast‑paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Special Requirements:

• For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD‑12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post‑employment background investigation.
• To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.
• For foreign national candidates: If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three‑year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well‑being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on‑site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.