Robotics Specialist (Platform Autonomous Motion)

MIPT AI Institute is a leading artificial intelligence institute in Russia. The Institute includes the strongest scientists and key Phystech laboratories in the following areas: optimization for AI, Robotics, Generative AI, Computer Vision, and Mathematical Modeling. The Institute's goal is to create breakthrough scientific research and applied developments for the key industries of the country's economy. A little about us in numbers: 1st place among technical universities in Russia in the international THE and CWUR rankings (2026); 1st place in the RAEX subject ranking in the field of "Information Technologies" (2025); 1st place in the ranking of advanced engineering schools (2025); 1st place in the ranking of Russian universities by admission quality (2025); Leader in the university ranking for the quality of specialist training in the field of artificial intelligence (2025). Working at MIPT means: working at the best technical university in the country in a team with outstanding world-class scientists, talented and motivated students, and highly qualified specialists; continuous professional growth while working on ambitious tasks and unique projects at the intersection of education, science, and industry, and the opportunity to contribute to the development of education and science in Russia.

What you will be doing:

• Ensuring autonomous motion of a mobile platform along a row: maintaining position on a tube rail or in the furrow between rows, speed control, stopping at the end of the row, stable travel during filming.
• Moving the platform between rows: detecting the end of a row, exiting to a technological passage, entering the next row (rail, wheels, or a mixed scheme — together with the designer).
• Calculating the navigation contour for a greenhouse: localization without GNSS, row topology, linking the route to row identifiers for filming and crop accounting.
• Selection and integration of navigation sensors (cameras, lidar, ultrasound, IMU, encoders) together with the designer and electronics engineer: calibration, operation in moisture, condensation, and variable lighting.
• Actuator control: platform kinematics, speed and position loops, communication via CAN or RS-485, manual, semi-automatic, and autonomous control modes.
• Ensuring motion safety: detection of people and obstacles, emergency stop, speed limitation, behavior during loss of localization or communication.
• Coordinating motion with filming: speed, acceleration, and stopping to ensure high-quality filming; integration with computer vision and systems engineering teams.
• Bench and field testing at industrial sites: logs, metrics (time per row, transition time, deviations, coverage), documentation, refinement based on field trip results.
• Formulating requirements for the housing, cabling, and mounting for the mechanic and contractors; incoming inspection of manufactured boards.

Requirements:

• Higher technical education in the field of robotics, mechatronics, control systems, applied mathematics, computer science, or related disciplines.
• At least 3 years of experience with mobile robots, AGV/AMR, or autonomous platforms with proven results: a motion loop brought to field testing, not just a bench or demo.
• Navigation in confined or structured environments: following guides, rows, walls, or rails; localization without GNSS.
• Writing code in C++ and Python, ROS 2 (or ROS): nodes, sensor drivers, control loop on the onboard computer.
• Skills in working with controllers (PID and analogs), encoders, and IMU.
• Integration of lidar, cameras, or rangefinders: calibration, state estimation filtering (EKF/UKF or analogs).
• Ability to manage the navigation loop independently, without external technical supervision, and bring the motion to a working state on-site.
• English language at least Intermediate (technical documentation, drivers, communication with suppliers).
• Readiness for site visits (greenhouses, orchards) to test the platform — approximately once every 2 months, more frequently during the testing stage.

It will be an advantage:

• Experience with greenhouse or agricultural platforms, including movement on a tube rail.
• Experience developing objects with a row-following function via camera (visual servoing) or via lidar in narrow inter-row spaces.
• Experience developing objects with the ability to move between rows: turning at the end, changing rails, "rail + wheels" hybrid.
• Experience developing devices for operation in wet and dusty environments: agro, industry, special equipment.
• Knowledge of mobile robot safety standards (ISO 3691-4 and related).
• Experience working with motor drivers, CAN, RS.
• Bringing an autonomous motion prototype into regular operation.
• Full SLAM in free space (in a greenhouse, it is more likely row topology rather than warehouse mapping).

We offer:

• Work in the best technical university in the country in a team with outstanding world-class scientists, talented and motivated students, and highly qualified specialists.
• Continuous professional growth while working on ambitious tasks and unique projects at the intersection of education, science, and industry, and the opportunity to contribute to the development of science in Russia.
• A modern office in the MIPT campus in Dolgoprudny (Near the Novodachnaya station of MCD-1, or 15 minutes from Altufyevo, Khovrino, Fiztekh metro stations).
• Salary level is discussed individually: a highly qualified candidate ready to perform the full range of job functions can claim the upper limit of the salary range.
• Hybrid work schedule: 5/2 (Monday-Friday) from 09:00 to 18:00.
• Employment in accordance with the Labor Code of the Russian Federation.
• Free access to all MIPT infrastructure: swimming pool, gym, training at open seminars and lectures, concerts.
• A modern MIPT medical center with highly qualified specialized doctors.
• In accordance with the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, employees in the field of education are required upon employment to provide a certificate of criminal record status (presence or absence), the processing time for which can be up to 30 days; we ask you to take care of obtaining it in advance (request in electronic form via Gosuslugi).

Requirements

Not specified; Experience: 0 years