Are you ready to pioneer the next generation of autonomous systems and oceanographic remote sensing?

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) invites ambitious and creative postdoctoral researchers to join our cutting-edge Ocean Sciences Division. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of autonomous navigation and environmental sensing, working at the intersection of robotics, AI, and oceanography.

You will have the chance to develop and deploy technologies for both Uncrewed Underwater Systems (UUS) and Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), contributing to vital applications in national security and environmental science.

Your Mission

As a key member of our multidisciplinary team, you will conduct research with a strong purpose: you will solve real-world challenges for the fleet. Your work will directly advance the capabilities of autonomous systems in complex maritime environments.

Your research will involve part or all of the following:

- Underwater Platform (UUS): Develop and integrate advanced acoustic instruments for critical missions, including high-resolution bathymetry and mine detection.

- Aerial Platform (UAS): Advance compact lidar and geospatial sensors for alternative navigation (GPS-denied environments), rapid environmental mapping, and real-time situational awareness.

- AI & Autonomy: Design and implement AI/ML algorithms for intelligent pathfinding, automatic feature detection, and fusing data from multiple sensors to give our systems unparalleled perception and decision-making abilities.

- Field Deployment: Take your innovations from the lab to the ocean. You will play an active role in field campaigns and at-sea experiments, testing and validating your prototypes on our fleet of autonomous platforms.

Why Join the Naval Research Laboratory?

The Ocean Sciences Division is a world-leader in maritime research. You will work alongside internationally recognized scientists and engineers in a collaborative environment. We tackle challenging problems that require a blend of deep scientific understanding and creative engineering. This position is your chance to learn, publish, and grow, all while contributing to projects of national importance.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking a forward-thinking problem-solver with a Ph.D. (or nearing completion) in physics, engineering, oceanography, computer science, or a related discipline.

1. The most critical qualification is your passion for learning. The complexity of our systems demands a readiness to explore new scientific domains and technologies.
2. A strong interest in hands-on fieldwork and a desire to see your work deployed on real autonomous systems are essential.
3. While direct experience with lidar, acoustics, or AI is a plus, it is not a prerequisite. We value curiosity and a drive to master new skills.

If you are ready to push the boundaries of science and technology, we encourage you to apply. This position offers a chance to build a unique and impactful career at the forefront of oceanographic research.

References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921889022000343

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/9/3921

UUS; UAS; Lidar; Sonar; Acoustics; AI/ML; Autonomous Navigation; Robotics; Oceanography; Remote Sensing; Signal Processing

citizenship

Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents

level

Open to Postdoctoral applicants

Additional Benefits

relocation

Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.

health insurance

A group health insurance program is available to awardees and their qualifying dependents in the United States.