Research Position in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

Luleå University of Technology is experiencing strong growth with world-leading expertise in several research areas. We shape the future through innovative education and groundbreaking research results, and based on the Arctic region, we create global societal benefits. Our scientific and artistic research and education are conducted in close collaboration with international, national, and regional companies, public actors, and leading universities. Luleå University of Technology has a total turnover of nearly 2.1 billion SEK per year. We currently have 1,900 employees and 18,700 students.

In the coming years, multi-billion investments are being made in Norrbotten and Västerbotten in large projects aimed at a more sustainable society both nationally and globally. Luleå University of Technology is involved in several of these highly relevant research projects and the societal transformation that follows. We have a wide range of educational programs to match the skills in demand. We hope you want to help us build the sustainable companies and societies of the future.

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, RAI, at the Department of Systems and Space Technology at Luleå University of Technology is now seeking a researcher to contribute to our growing operations. The RAI team conducts fundamental and principled research in all aspects of robotics with a specific focus on airborne, space, and bio-inspired robotics.

Subject Description

Robotics and artificial intelligence aim to develop new robotic systems characterized by advanced autonomy to improve the robots' ability to interact with the environment and people while performing specific tasks.

Project Description

The vision of RAI is to bridge the gap between theory and reality, and the team has a strong background in field robotics. Application areas we focus on include robotics for mining, airborne inspection of aging infrastructure, multi-robot search and rescue for emergency services, and similar. Furthermore, we work with multi-sensor fusion and multi-robot coordination, which includes environmental perception, decentralization, and execution of specified missions for multi-robot systems.

Job Responsibilities

The main responsibilities of a researcher are primarily research. Teaching and pedagogical development work may be included in the tasks with up to 20% of the working time. You will conduct research with substantial experimental elements, which should be published in peer-reviewed international academic journals as well as major conferences. Responsibilities include supervising PhD and MSc students, teaching, and supporting the acquisition of funding for future research projects from research funding agencies/councils, EU projects, or industry.

You will work within airborne robotics, and their activities will link with national, European, and World Wide R&D projects.

Characteristic Research Topics

Characteristic research topics will focus on, but are not limited to, the following areas, where evidence of previous work with experimentally verified results is necessary:

• Learning-based autonomous systems for field robotics
• Navigation based on reinforcement learning
• Coordination between multiple agents and communication-aware strategies
• Exploration and mapping in unknown environments
• Robotics in challenging and unstructured environments
• Control and autonomy for airborne robots with manipulators
• Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for exploration and inspection
• Soft and shape-changing airborne robots with pneumatic actuation
• Navigation in GPS-denied, confined, or dynamic environments
• Advanced control and system integration
• Non-linear, adaptive, and robust control methods
• Controllers for underactuated and coupled robot dynamics
• Stability-aware and model-based autonomy
• Autonomy development based on ROS/ROS2
• Testing in real-world environments on airborne, underwater, and soft robot platforms

Qualifications

To be eligible for employment, a PhD or equivalent foreign degree in control engineering or a related field is required. It is advantageous if your degree was obtained no more than three years before the application deadline for this position. If there are special reasons, it may be considered for those who obtained their PhD earlier, for example, due to various types of statutory leaves. The research tasks require a solid mathematical background with proven advanced experimental capability and excellent programming skills (e.g., C++, ROS, Matlab, etc.). You should have a strong vision for evaluating and demonstrating research results in real field and industrial conditions, with an approach that bridges the gap between pure theory and experimental verification. You will need to represent the group in various contexts, both in Sweden and abroad, thus excellent English skills are a requirement.

Information

The position is a full-time, fixed-term employment for one year. Location Luleå and starting April 1, 2026.

For further information, please contact:
George Nikolakopoulos, Professor and subject representative 0920–491298, [email protected]

Union representatives:
SACO-S Diana Chroneer, 0920-49 2037 [email protected]
OFR-S Marika Vesterberg, 0920-49 1721 [email protected]

Application

We prefer that you apply for the position via the application button below, attaching a personal letter, a detailed CV with a list of publications, and a complete description of your scientific merits, a rough research plan regarding the described research topics, a list of successful grant applications or participation in research projects, at least 2 references, formal copies of verified and translated diplomas and PhD. Please mark your application with the reference number below. The application must be written in English as we have English speakers in the recruitment group.

Application deadline: February 4, 2026
Reference number: 7266–2025