Research Job Opportunity
by Belinda Guevara
Hi everyone,
See below for research job opportunity:
Job Title: Embedded Systems Engineer (Small UAVs/Drones)
Location: Unmanned Systems Lab, Department of Electrical Engineering
Position Type: Research Assistant
Position Overview
The Unmanned Systems Lab at the Department of Electrical Engineering is seeking a motivated and skilled Embedded Systems Engineer to join our team designing, building, and testing next-generation, small autonomous unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The ideal candidate will work at the intersection of hardware, firmware, and low-level software, bridging the gap between theoretical algorithms developed by PhD students and practical, flying hardware and simulations. You will work on cutting-edge projects that bring technical advances to societal and economic impacts.
Key Responsibilities
* Firmware Development: Develop, customize, and optimize firmware of OSIRIS board for different applications.
* System Integration: Integrate additional sensors (LiDAR, cameras, IR) and computing modules (Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Jetson) into small-scale drone platforms.
* Algorithm Deployment: Implement and optimize autonomous navigation, control algorithms, and computer vision models from Python onto embedded processors.
* Testing & Debugging: Perform Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) and Simulation-in-the-Loop (SITL) tests, as well as live field testing to ensure reliability and safety.
* Hardware Prototyping: Design and assemble custom PCB components, wire sensors, and manage power distribution for prototypes.
* Documentation: Maintain rigorous documentation of code, hardware configurations, and experimental results for research publication and future development.
Required Qualifications
* Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or a closely related field.
* Proven experience (2+ years) in embedded C/C++ programming.
* Hands-on experience with microcontroller architectures (e.g., STM32, ARM Cortex-M).
* Familiarity with open-source drone platforms (PX4/ArduPilot) and Linux/ROS (Robot Operating System).
* Experience with communication protocols (UART, SPI, I2C, CAN).
* Experience with PCB design tools (Altium, CAD).
* Strong debugging skills using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters.
Preferred Qualifications
* Experience with computer vision libraries (OpenCV) and machine learning acceleration on embedded platforms (e.g., TensorRT, Jetson).
* Experience with real-time operating systems (FreeRTOS).
* FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (or ability to obtain one).
Soft Skills
* Highly proactive and capable of working independently in an academic research environment.
* Strong collaborative skills to assist graduate students with their research projects.
* Patience and persistence in troubleshooting complex, time-critical hardware/software bugs.
What We Offer
* Opportunity to work on cutting-edge drone and AI research that will be published in top-tier conferences.
* Access to modern lab facilities, including rapid prototyping machines and specialized sensors.
* A collaborative and innovative research team.
How to Apply?
Email your resume/CV and transcripts along with a brief cover letter to yongcan.cao(a)utsa.edu<mailto:yongcan.cao@utsa.edu>.
Best Regards,
Belinda Guevara
Department of Electrical Engineering
Senior Program Coordinator
The University of Texas at San Antonio
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1 month, 2 weeks
EE's New Senior Program Coordinator
by Khanh Nguyen
Hello everyone!
I'd like to introduce you to your new staff member, the Electrical Engineering Senior Program Coordinator:
Ms. Belinda Guvara.
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She comes to us with over 12 year of experience with UTSA in not only Financial Aid, but Enrollment Services as well. So she's an OG roadrunner. Belinda will take over all the Coordinator duties starting Monday, February 9, 2026. Starting Monday, any emails I receive that pertain to the Coordinator, I will just forward to her. If you are on campus next week, be sure to drop by and say hi to her and introduce yourself. She occupies the Coordinator office in BSE 1.506.
See below the duties chart as a reminder of who you can go to for help with certain things.
* Justin Bingham Justin.Bingham(a)utsa.edu<mailto:Justin.Bingham@utsa.edu>
* Admin Manager
* Belinda Guevara Belinda.Guevara(a)utsa.edu<mailto:Belinda.Guevara@utsa.edu>
* Sr Program Coordinator
* Khanh Nguyen Khanh.Nguyen(a)utsa.edu<mailto:Khanh.Nguyen@utsa.edu>
* Lab Supervisor II
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Best regards,
Khanh Nguyen
Lab Supervisor II
Electrical Engineering
The University of Texas at San Antonio
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX 78249
Tel: 210-458-6483
1 month, 3 weeks