Research Job Opportunity

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@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 [cid:image001.png@01DC9C25.34B14CB0]