Research Engineer III

Job Title

Research Engineer III

Agency

Texas A&M University System Offices

Department

Bush Combat Development Complex

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Bryan, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

The System Offices is one of several system members within the Texas A&M University System representing one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a network of 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, nine state agencies, and the RELLIS Campus. The Texas A&M University System mission is to provide education, conduct research, commercialize technology, offer training, and deliver services for the people of Texas and beyond.

The System Offices, within the Texas A&M University System, provides an outstanding benefits package including, but not limited to: competitive health benefits; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; a defined benefit retirement plan to include an employer contribution through Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS); if applicable, a defined contribution retirement plan to include an employer contribution through an approved ORP vendor: additional voluntary tax deferred annuity (TDA) options; tuition assistance; and wellness programs to promote work/life balance.

Salary:

$5,084.33 - $9,166.67 per month commensurate with experience.

Job Description Summary:

The Research Engineer III independently applies advanced engineering principles to design and implement the core algorithms and software architectures that power our multi-agent systems. At the George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex (BCDC), the Research Engineer for Multi-Agent Autonomy develops next-generation autonomous systems that enable coordinated, heterogeneous fleets to operate in complex, unstructured environments. This research focuses on the integration of diverse platforms, ranging from tactical UTVs and military-grade UGVs to unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and autonomous helicopters. We aim to solve the fundamental challenges of multi-agent coordination and shared situational awareness, fostering the human-agent teaming essential for future mission success. By bridging the gap between sophisticated algorithms and real-world application, our team develops technologies that significantly enhance unit capabilities, mobility, and speed of action. We translate theoretical breakthroughs into field-demonstrated reality through System Experimentation and Field Testing using our multi-vehicle fleet in the diverse off-road terrain of the RELLIS campus.

Responsibilities:

- Designs, implements, and maintains software modules for multi-agent coordination, including task allocation, decentralized path planning, and coordinated multi-vehicle behaviors.

- Produces efficient code (Python/C++) subject to computational and resource constraints to function effectively on embedded hardware and within ROS2 middleware.

- Implements communication protocols and data-sharing architectures to support shared situational awareness across heterogeneous air and ground assets.

- Optimizes perception and navigation stacks for reliable operation across diverse hardware platforms (e.g., tactical UTVs, military-grade UGVs, and UAVs).

- Troubleshoots, debugs, maintains, and improves existing software and algorithms within the BCDC autonomy stacks.

- Develops and utilizes multi-level simulation environments to validate multi-agent strategies and algorithmic performance prior to field deployment.

- Conducts hardware exploration and sensor selection (e.g., LiDAR, cameras, Radar, GNSS) to define perception systems tailored to specific project and algorithmic requirements.

- Performs hands-on system hardware integration and tuning for perception, navigation, and coordination subsystems, ensuring hardware-software synergy.

- Tests and deploys programs, applications, and ROS2 nodes in simulation and on physical hardware platforms.

- Contributes to the development of software-hardware interfaces for new platforms, including autonomous helicopters and robotic ground vehicles.

- Independently designs real-world experiment protocols and corresponding metrics to evaluate the performance of complex multi-agent systems in unstructured environments.

- Participates in demonstrations to stakeholders, reviews and evaluates results, and establishes conclusions based on capability performance.

- Generates technical documentation, system requirements, and user manuals to aid future project developments and technology transition.

- Collaborates with faculty, senior staff, and project leads to translate high-level research goals into actionable software requirements.

- Contributes significantly to technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications.

Education and Experience:

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Four years of related experience.

Registration, Certifications, and Licenses:

- Must be able to obtain a U.S. Department of War Security Clearance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

- Advanced proficiency in modern C++ and Python for robotics and distributed systems.

- Ability to perform hardware-software integration and troubleshoot field-deployed systems.

- Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey technical Information clearly ta senior management.

- Strong technical writing skills for reports and publications.

- Highly collaborative and able to work in a team-based environment.

- Familiarity with principles of Agile project management in an R&O context.

- Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Strong understanding of R0S2 or similar distributed middleware (e.g., DDS, Zenoh, ZeroMQ, Kafka) and Linux-based development environments.

- Familiarity with networking fundamentals (TCP/UDP, multicast} and their application in distributed robotic communication.

- Familiarity with robotic sensor hardware (UDAR, Cameras, IMU, GNSS} and their Integration within autonomous stacks.

- Familiarity with multi-level simulation tools (e.g., Isaac Sim, Gazebo) for algorithmic validation.

Other Requirements:

This is a security-sensitive position and is restricted to U.S. citizens only. Only complete applications will be considered for employment at The Texas A&M System Offices. Incomplete job application data could result in your application being rejected without an option to reapply. A cover letter and resume may be required in addition to a completed employment application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.