The University of Pittsburgh/U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) is a collaborative venture advancing rehabilitation technology. Committed to enhancing the independence and quality of life for individuals with disabilities, HERL merges expertise from academia and the VA system. Our mission is to innovate, design, and implement cutting-edge technologies, promoting mobility, accessibility, and improved quality of life for people with disabilities. Through interdisciplinary research, HERL strives to empower individuals and shape the future of assistive technology.

HERL is seeking a highly qualified Postdoctoral Associate to join the systems integration engineering team on a major sponsored research project focused on innovative assistive technologies aimed at enhancing mobility and accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The initial appointment is for one year with the opportunity for reappointment. This position is suited for candidates with experience in the implementation and testing of virtual environments, control systems design, and software framework management. The role also involves close collaboration with the engineering team to integrate hardware, software, and control systems and align technical solutions with end-user needs. The incumbent must show leadership, flexibility, and initiative. Specific duties include:

• Assisting with the development of virtual environments and assets representing the assistive mobility platform and features.
• Translating mechanical and kinematic data into functional simulation models for motion, stability, and environmental interaction.
• Supporting algorithm development for sensor fusion, motion planning, and control validation within virtual environments.
• Building simulation APIs to test and validate new operating system modules before hardware deployment.
• Collaborating with hardware and mechanical teams in the validation of physical testing data with virtual environments for predictive performance modeling.
• Maintaining documentation, version control (GitHub), and contributing to milestone reports.
• Preparing detailed maintenance reports and technical documentation.
• Contributing to authoring or co-authoring manuscripts, presenting findings, and knowledge dissemination.
• Writing or assisting in grant proposals.
• Mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.

Requirements

A PhD in robotics, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field is required. The following skills and experience are strongly preferred:

• Strong experience in simulation platforms (e.g., Omniverse, Gazebo, Isaac Sim, PyBullet, or Unity).
• Proficiency in Python/C++ and other programming languages.
• Advanced knowledge of kinematics, dynamics, and control systems design.
• Exposure to FEA tools (e.g., ANSYS, SimScale, or COMSOL) and the ability to connect those insights to virtual modeling.
• Familiarity with real-time operating systems and/or robotic frameworks (e.g., Linux, ROS/ROS2) and GPU-based simulation optimization is a plus.
• Familiarity with communication protocols (e.g., UART, I2C, SPI, CAN).
• Hands-on experience in prototype fabrication, bench testing, and data-driven performance validation.
• Evidence of effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Some record of publication.

Incumbent must successfully complete a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs background check. To apply, please submit your CV, a cover letter, and a list of three references with their contact information. Please apply through requisition # 25005861 through join.pitt.edu.