Assured PNT and Sensor Fusion Research Associate Full-time NEW

Assured PNT and Sensor Fusion Research Associate

Applied Research Laboratories is a University Affiliated Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin, located on the Pickle Research Campus in North Austin. Through fundamental research, innovative science, and applied engineering, ARL:UT makes significant contributions in support of national security.

Within ARL:UT, the Space and Geophysics Laboratory (SGL) engages in research in electromagnetic propagation, geo-positioning, and remote sensing. The lab monitors the long-term performance of GPS, addresses the specification of government geodetic-quality GPS receivers, and designs and executes government tests for industry-produced receivers.

We are seeking a Research Associate to provide expertise in secure, robust, and precise positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), and scientific rigor across a portfolio of technologies germane to the interests of SGL listed above, in order to advance the state of the art in these areas. The position focuses on navigation-level problems in contested and degraded environments. These include detecting, characterizing, and geolocating sources of radio-frequency interference and spoofing; fusing GNSS with complementary sensors; and extracting PNT from non-traditional signals, including those of LEO satellite constellations.

Responsibilities include:

• Perform high-level independent GNSS signals and software research relevant to the interests of SGL.
• Present and publish your research, both internally and externally.
• Contribute to the first-principles problem formulations, algorithm development, systems designs, software implementations, and collection methods for PNT applications in contested and degraded environments.
• Develop and evaluate techniques to detect, characterize, and mitigate GNSS spoofing and jamming. Develop methods to geolocate interference sources from terrestrial, airborne, and space-based platforms.
• Develop state estimators that tightly couple GNSS carrier-phase measurements with inertial, visual, radar, or other sensor data, including integer ambiguity resolution and integrity monitoring.
• Characterize and exploit signals of opportunity, including broadband LEO downlinks and other non-navigation signals, for ranging, timing, and positioning. Derive estimation performance bounds to guide system design.
• Plan and execute field data collection campaigns using software-defined radio, GNSS, and multi-sensor platforms. Analyze results and develop recommendations for improvement.
• Implement software algorithms in a collaborative environment. Work closely with team members to define interfaces between program components. Document implementations thoroughly and clearly. Define, implement, and execute test cases for program functions.
• Further develop knowledge of PNT, estimation theory, sensor fusion, and software development principles.
• Provide guidance and assistance to other full time employees and student employees.
• Provide technical leadership and identify new directions for research.
• Other related functions as assigned and occasional travel to support meetings.

Required Qualification

• PhD in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, physics, computer science, mathematics, or a related field.
• Experience developing software for scientific applications.
• Experience developing GNSS, radionavigation, or PNT estimation algorithms.
• Demonstrated record of authoring peer-reviewed scientific publications.
• Demonstrated record of presenting scientific content to technical and non-technical audiences.

Applicant must have a dynamic skill set, willing to work with new technologies, be highly organized and capable of planning and coordinating multiple tasks and managing their time. The position will require attention to detail, effective problem solving skills and excellent judgment. Ability to work independently with sensitive and confidential information, maintain a professional demeanor, work as a team member without daily supervision and effectively communicate with various groups of clients. Able to work under pressure and accept supervision. Regular and punctual attendance.

US Citizen. Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information at the level appropriate to the project requirements of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with GNSS spoofing and jamming detection, signal authentication, or interference characterization.
• Experience with RF emitter geolocation techniques, such as TDOA/FDOA or Doppler-based methods, from single or multiple platforms.
• Experience with carrier-phase differential GNSS (CDGNSS/RTK), integer ambiguity resolution, and navigation integrity.
• Experience with tightly coupled GNSS/inertial navigation, visual SLAM or bundle adjustment, or radar-based odometry and localization.
• Experience with LEO-based PNT. This includes characterizing the structure of non-cooperative signals, OFDM-based ranging, and time-of-arrival and Doppler estimation.
• Experience developing software-defined GNSS receivers, including real-time implementations and RF front-end integration.
• Experience with adversarial estimation or game-theoretic decision-making, such as counter-UAS applications.
• Experience collecting and curating large raw-RF or multi-sensor datasets.
• Experience with any of the following: multi-rate signal processing, remote sensing, radar, wireless communications, RF signal processing, ionosphere, reference frames, orbital mechanics, and digital design.
• Experience estimating orbits of spacecraft and satellites.
• Experience in writing proposals for and leading externally funded research projects.
• Experience with high-performance computing.
• Proficiency with programming languages such as Python, C/C++, FORTRAN, or similar.
• Experience developing on Linux and Windows platforms, including terminal-based environments (bash), version control (Git and GitHub/GitLab), and cloud services (such as AWS).
• Proficiency with LaTeX.
• Eligibility for immediate access to classified information.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Salary Range $120,000-165,000+/negotiable depending on qualifications Working Conditions include standard office conditions, repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation, use of manual dexterity, some weekend, evening and holiday work, and possible interstate/intrastate travel.

Required Materials include a resume/CV, 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor, a letter of interest, and unofficial college transcripts.