Research Engineer

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Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary
The Drone Transport Initiative (DTI) is searching for a Research Engineer to lead the development and deployment of long-range medical drones. Specifically, this position will develop, implement, and flight test automated offline and online flight planners for long-range drone flight. This position acts as a key engineer for the autopilot system owning it’s design architecture and acts as a main interface between trainees, PIs, industry collaborators, regulators, and community partners in addition to preparing regulatory filings, scientific publication, and progress reports for funders and other interested parties.
Organizational Status
This position reports to the Dr. Dominic Liao-McPherson (DTI engineering lead) and Sandy Lee (DTI Project director). The DTI is a collaborative initiative between the UBC faculties of Applied Science, Medicine, and Pharmaceutical Sciences focused on improving healthcare access in rural, remote, and indigenous communities through drone technology.
Work Performed
The successful applicant will conduct research in the areas of aerospace guidance, navigation, and control, control systems, and robotics, with a focus on the design, development testing and validation of autopilot system for long-range drone flight. Specific duties include:

• Designing analytical models, flight planning algorithms and control software for long-range drone operations.
• Designing and implementing the autopilot and flight control systems on multiple drone platforms, including:
  • Path planning and flight control algorithm development
  • Integration of algorithms into onboard edge computing devices
  • Development and modification of embedded flight control software in embedded C/C++ using ROS/ROS2 or similar platforms
  • Verification, validation and testing of flight software (e.g., command and control module, PID and LQR controllers etc.)
  • Integration of command & control modules with teleoperation and GPS modules
• Conducting experiments and flight-testing activates to evaluate and improve autopilot system performance, including:
  • Data management and analysis of flight performance and safety data
  • Oversee calibration, testing, and modification of flight control systems and related equipment
  • Preparation technical summaries and reports related to flight testing activities
  • Oversee maintenance and updating of autopilot software in response to test outcomes
• Work with Transport Canada to gain flight approvals and provide required technical information and documentation.
• Preparing industrial, technical and scientific reports and communicating researching findings and testing outcomes of flight-testing program to project collaborators and partners
• Providing technical advice to faculty, students, and collaborators related to autopilot systems, robotics, and flight-testing activities
• Contributing in relevant workshops, conferences and collaborative research activities.

All these tasks involve collaboration with our industry (InDro robotics), community (Stellat’en First Nation, the Village of Fraser Lake), and health system (Northern Health, First Nation Health Authority) partners.
Consequence of Error/Judgement
Errors in job function could lead to damage of drone hardware or reflect poorly on the initiative as a whole and could have a negative impact on the DTIs drone development program.
Supervision Received
Works independently under the supervision of Dr. Liao-McPherson. Work is reviewed against task objectives and conformity to standards.
Supervision Given
May provide guidance and direction to students and technical staff participating in initiative activities
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in Engineering or Applied Science. Minimum of three years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

- PhD in mechanical, electrical, robotics, or aerospace engineering

- Experience with flight testing (or field testing) or prototype systems and systems engineering

- Familiarity with ROS/ROS2

- Experience with software and Hardware in the loop testing