Sr Research Associate (HIL Simulation Systems Engineer)

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors

Next Lives at the University of Cincinnati

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation's best urban public research universities. Home to more than 53,000 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, and over 350,000 living alumni, UC, a Carnegie 1 institution, combines research prowess with a physical setting The New York Times has called "the most ambitious campus design program in the country." UC's momentum has never been stronger as the anchor of the Cincinnati Innovation District, the oldest cooperative education (co-op) program in the country with students earning $88.8 million annually through paid experiences, an academic health system, and as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The university contributes $10.6 billion in economic impact to the city and $22.7 billion to the state of Ohio. At UC, next is all of us. Learn more at uc.edu.

UC is a mission-driven organization where we are committed to student success and positively transforming the community through scholarship and service. We thrive on innovation, making an impact, and fostering an environment where staff and faculty are key contributors to UC's success.

Job Overview

The Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Systems (IRAS) Lab at the University of Cincinnati is seeking a highly skilled Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Simulation Systems Engineer (in university's job category of Senior Research Associate) to join our research team. The successful candidate will collaborate with faculty, graduate students, and external academic and industrial partners to design, build, and validate a robotics-based HIL simulation facility for testing spacecraft and robotic systems. This role requires strong hands-on expertise in real-time systems, robotics integration, and software development-from concept through hardware implementation and testing. Since the position is research grant funded, continuation of the employment depends on availability of sponsored research support. Because this research is funded by the U.S. Space Force, U.S. citizenship is required for the position.

Essential Functions

• Design, construction, and test a robotics-based HIL simulation system in collaboration with involved faculty and students.
• Develop and implement real-time hardware/software interfaces for robotic and sensor devices for the HIL simulation system.
• Support real-time simulation software development and integration using MATLAB/Simulink, Quanser QUARC, ROS 2, Python, and C++.
• Maintain and troubleshoot lab computing, communication, measurement, and robotic hardware and HIL process software.
• Contribute to research reports, publications, and proposals, particularly in hardware design, data collection and analysis.
• Provide technical guidance and training to undergraduate and graduate students.
• Assist managing and maintain lab equipment, including robots, sensors, and prototyping tools.

Required Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.

Required Experience

Minimum of three (3) years of experience in hardware-in-the-loop simulation, embedded robotic systems, or networked real-time system design.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Office environment/no specific unusual physical or environmental demands.

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. (UC Benefits Link) Highlights include:

Comprehensive Tuition Remission

UC provides tuition remission for you and your eligible dependents, covering tuition costs for nearly all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the university.

Robust Retirement Plans

As a UC employee, you won't contribute to Social Security (except Medicare). Instead, you'll choose between state pension plans (OPERS, STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP), with UC contributing 14-18% of your salary based on position.

Real Work-Life Balance

UC prioritizes work-life balance with a generous time-off policy, including:

Vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays and additional end-of-year paid time off (Winter Season Days)

6 weeks of paid parental leave for new parents

Additional Benefits Include:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription)
• Flexible spending accounts & wellness programs
• Professional development & mentorship opportunities

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our careers page at https://www.uc.edu/careers.html

UC is an E-Verify employer. If hired into this position, you will be required to provide satisfactory proof of employment eligibility by providing acceptable, original forms of identification for employment verification via the Federal I-9 employment verification process. A list of acceptable documents can be seen here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Important : To apply you must create a profile and submit a complete job application through the UC applicant portal. We are unable to consider "easy apply" applications submitted via other websites. For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact Human Resources at jobs@uc.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer. Building a workplace where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, including Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans.

REQ: 100255

SF:OMJ SF:RM SF:HEJ, SF:INS SF:HERC SF:DIV SF:LJN SF:IHE

Sr Research Associate (HIL Simulation Systems Engineer)

Date: Oct 17, 2025

Location:
Cincinnati, OH, US

Facility: Main Campus

Nearest Major Market: Cincinnati
Job Segment: Facilities, Testing, Systems Engineer, Embedded, Research Engineer, Operations, Technology, Engineering