Research Engineer III

Texas A&M University System Offices

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 to 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 ROS2 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.