Postdoctoral Research Associate, Systems and Industrial Engineering

The Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering (SIE) is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Systems Engineering with a focus on Space Systems. This position offers an exciting opportunity for a dedicated researcher to contribute to cutting-edge studies in the field. The successful candidate will engage in advanced research at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), and Space Domain Awareness (SDA). This role involves conducting in-depth investigations, generating valuable insights, and contributing to academic advancements in space systems. Additionally, the position includes opportunities for involvement in teaching-related activities, allowing the candidate to share knowledge and expertise with students.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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• Lead and support research projects in AI-driven GNC for space robotics systems, leveraging both classical optimization techniques and modern machine learning methods.
• Lead and support research projects in AI-driven solutions for SDA, focusing on intelligent sensor tasking and the automated identification and characterization of space objects in Earth orbits and cislunar environment using optical data.
• Contribute to the development of research proposals and grant applications to secure funding for ongoing and future research endeavors.
• Publish finding in high-impact journals and present at leading conferences.
• Collaborate with faculty, students, and external partners.
• Contribute to teaching, mentoring, and curriculum development.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong background in AI, GNC, and SDA.
• Demonstrated proficiency in C++, Python, MATLAB, and modern machine learning frameworks.
• Proven research record, including peer-reviewed publications.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

• Ph.D. in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. Degree must be conferred upon hire.

• Applied expertise in optimal control, heuristic optimization, graph search algorithms, and machine learning to solve complex aerospace engineering challenges.
• Developed and implemented AI-driven solutions for autonomous lunar and asteroid landings, as well as cislunar operations.
• Designed and executed multi-target space trajectory plans for missions involving active debris removal, on-orbit servicing, and multiple gravity-assist (MGA) tours.
• Experience in teaching and mentoring students.