Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Postdoctoral Research Fellow role at Macquarie University Salary package: $109,272 per annum (Level A.6 - PhD awarded rate) plus 17% employer's superannuation and annual leave loading. Appointment Type: Full-time, fixed‑term appointment for 12 months, with the possibility of extension for an additional year. Location: Macquarie University, Wallumattagal Campus, North Ryde. About the Role We are seeking a motivated and technically strong Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the Advanced Drone Systems Research Centre at Macquarie University. In this role, you will lead the development of robust UAV control systems and sensor integration pipelines for PX4‑ and ArduPilot‑based platforms. You’ll work closely on embedded and real‑time systems across various drone configurations and mission types. You will collaborate with an energetic team of engineers, researchers, and partner organisations as part of a nationally funded AEA Innovate initiative. This is a unique opportunity to shape the next generation of autonomous aerial systems with real‑world deployment in mind. Key Responsibilities Conduct original research in drone autonomy, sensing, and cooperative multi‑agent systems. Design, implement, and test embedded systems, control architectures, and robotic platforms. Collaborate with PhD students, engineers, and academic staff across interdisciplinary domains. Lead publications in top‑tier robotics conferences (e.g., ICRA, IROS, ICUAS) and journals. Contribute to field trials, hardware integration, and system validation experiments. Support grant development, stakeholder engagement, and outreach. About Us We are Australia’s leading Drone Systems Research Centre, innovating in UAV autonomy, cooperative swarms, next‑generation high‑performance design, AI flight safety, and drone applications. We’re a close‑knit and ambitious team with deep technical expertise and a strong sense of purpose. How To Apply? To be considered for this role, please submit your application online and make sure to include the following documents: Your academic CV (with contact details for at least two referees). A cover letter addressing the selection criteria below and a 1‑page research statement highlighting your interests and fit with our Centre. Core Selection Criteria PhD (or thesis submitted) in robotics, mechatronics, aerospace engineering, or a related field. Demonstrated expertise in robotic systems, UAV platforms, and embedded computing. Strong track record of publications in robotics, control, or autonomous systems. Experience with ROS/ROS2, MAVLink, PX4/ArduPilot, and onboard computing platforms (e.g., Jetson, STM32). Proficient user of Python, C/C++, Linux tools and similar. Skills in control theory, estimation, perception pipelines, and multi‑agent coordination. Experience with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360) for component layout, mechanical integration, or prototyping. Excellent communication, collaboration, and project ownership skills. Experience with aerial manipulation, cooperative UAVs, or swarm robotics. Demonstrated capability in rapid prototyping, real‑world testing, and publishing experimental results. Strong understanding of core mathematical foundations, including linear algebra, control theory, statistics, and probabilistic methods. We welcome applications from international candidates. Specific Enquiries Please contact the Advanced Drone Systems Research Centre at Macquarie University via Application Deadline Submission of Applications Open Until: Tuesday 9 December 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (AEDT). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to progress or decline an application prior to the application closing date. We also reserve the right to close the advertisement early if a sufficient number of qualified applicants is received. Seniority Level Associate Employment Type Full‑time Job Function Research, Engineering, and Information Technology Industry Higher Education #J-18808-Ljbffr