Defence Scientist - Robotics Research

Job description

The Autonomous Systems Operations Ground Group at Defence R&D Canada Suffield Research Centre is seeking interested candidates for future job opening as Defence Robotics Researcher (Defence Scientist). Applicants must:

• be Canadian citizens
• have a relevant degree in engineering or computer science. Graduate degrees are preferred.
• Willing to relocate to Medicine Hat Alberta for the position

Interested candidates are requested to send an email/cover letter indicating why you are interested in the position, together with a resume and transcript, to [email protected]

NOTE: This is not an official job posting, but will be used to find possible candidates for a future position

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The candidates would be joining a team that is a mixture of Defence Scientists, Engineering, and Technologists and would be contributing to research in ground and air robotics. High-level areas of research would include:

• Multi-robot collaboration and mission execution
• GPS-Denied mapping and navigation
• Application of Deep Learning to robot/multi-robot systems (Vision Language Action Models, Automated mission tasking and monitoring, etc.)
• Counter uncrewed ground and air technologies
• Human-Robot Interaction

New hires are generally focused solely on their own research, but responsibilities will increase through a scientist’s career. In general, Defence Scientists are responsible for:

• Defining and establishing new research projects
• Working with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to ensure our projects are aligned with their vision for the future CAF
• Working with and leading small scientific teams to deliver on these project
• Coordinating research efforts with our Allies through NATO or the Five Eyes Science and Technology Community
• Establishing a network of collaborators (Academia, industry, other government departments, etc.) to deliver on program
• Publishing Technology reports (both internally and externally in peer-reviewed journals and conferences)

Education

Successful candidates would have to possess one or more of the following degrees:

• An undergraduate engineering degree in either Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Engineering Physics, Robotics, or equivalent.
• An undergraduate degree in computer science
• A Masters or Ph.D. in one of the forementioned degrees (Ideally performing robotics research)

Skills and Experience

Valuable Skills for Defence Scientists include:

• Experience working with ground and/or aerial robotic vehicles
• Experience performing robotics research as part of a small team
• Strong programming skills including C/C++, Python, etc.
• Experience working with the Robot Operating System 2 (ROS2)
• Computer vision experience
• Machine Learning and/or Deep Learning experience
• Strong communications skills
• Willing to travel (international meeting, Conference, trials and CAF exercises, etc.)

Pay and Benefits

Starting pay is based on education level and past experience and is laid out in the Defence Scientist Collective Agreement. Defence Scientists will typically receive pay increases 2 times a year (April and Oct) and will advance through pay scales (DS-1 through DS-7). The majority of DS’s start on the DS-3 pay scale will end their careers as DS-5s. The current salary ranges for DS 3-5 are provided below for reference:

• DS-3 $84,548 - $103,021
• DS-4 $114,539 - $145,934
• DS-5 $135,182 - $165,155

DRDC has a defined benefit pension which maxes out at 70% of your average 5 highest years of earning. The pension is indexed to inflation.