SLAM & Autonomous Navigation Researcher

specialized knowledge to respond effectively to the technological needs of very different business sectors, accelerating innovation, reducing both risks and spendings on scientific and technological infrastructures. The technology center participates in more than 200 large national and international consortium projects of high strategic R&I, has 230 patents and 10 spin-offs. Eurecat has eleven centers in Catalonia and presence in Madrid, Malaga and Chile.

Job description

The Mobile Robotics research line of the Robotics and Automation Unit at Eurecat Technology Center (Barcelona) is seeking a SLAM & Autonomous Navigation Researcher with a strong background in robotics software, localization, mapping and autonomous navigation, together with hands-on experience deploying and validating navigation algorithms on real mobile robotic platforms, including AMRs, agricultural robots and tractors, quadrupeds, and other autonomous vehicles.

The selected candidate will focus on the development and integration of autonomous navigation technologies, with particular emphasis on SLAM, localization and multi-sensor state estimation, as well as path planning, reactive navigation and obstacle avoidance.

We are particularly looking for a software-oriented robotics profile, with strong experience in ROS/ROS2, C++ and Python, capable of understanding, adapting and extending existing robotics software, developing new algorithms, and integrating navigation solutions across different robotic platforms and sensor configurations.

The selected candidate is expected to work on:

• SLAM, localization and multi-sensor state estimation.
• 2D/3D mapping and navigation in GNSS-denied environments.
• Global and local path planning.
• Perception and AI-driven mission execution for autonomous navigation.
• Reactive and perception-driven navigation and obstacle avoidance.
• Integration and validation of navigation technologies on real robotic platforms.

RESPONSABILITIES:

• Develop, integrate and maintain SLAM, localization and autonomous navigation software.
• Adapt and extend navigation software to new robots, sensors and operational environments.
• Develop and integrate perception-driven navigation and AI-based mission execution capabilities.
• Develop and integrate global/local planning, reactive navigation and obstacle avoidance capabilities.
• Integrate LiDAR, cameras, IMUs, GNSS, wheel odometry and other sensors into navigation stacks.
• Analyze, debug and improve navigation performance using datasets, simulation and real-world experiments.
• Contribute to national and European R&D projects, technical reports and scientific publications.

Requirements

Research Field: Engineering

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Academic Background

MSc, PhD, or equivalent experience in Robotics, Computer Science, Computer Vision, Automation, Control Engineering, or related fields.

Mandatory

• Strong background and hands-on experience in SLAM and robot localization, including the development, integration or modification of LiDAR-based and/or visual approaches, odometry and sensor fusion.
• Strong background in autonomous mobile robot navigation, including global/local path planning, reactive navigation and obstacle avoidance.
• Experience with ROS/ROS2 navigation frameworks such as Nav2 or equivalent custom navigation stacks, and good understanding of the different components of a complete autonomous navigation pipeline.
• Good understanding of robotic state estimation and sensor integration, including coordinate frames, transformations, calibration and synchronization.
• Proficiency in ROS/ROS2, C++ and Python.
• Experience understanding, debugging and modifying robotics software and adapting it to different platforms and sensor configurations.
• Hands-on experience integrating and validating navigation algorithms on real robotic platforms, including outdoor, unstructured and/or GNSS-denied environments.

SOFT SKILLS & PRACTICAL ASPECTS

• Strong analytical, problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and within a multidisciplinary robotics team.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Fluent English; other languages are a plus.
• Availability to travel occasionally for integration and field-testing activities.

Nice to Have

• Experience with perception for autonomous navigation, including object/person tracking and perception-driven reactive navigation.
• Experience with LLMs, VLMs and/or VLAs for robotic autonomy, including natural-language commands and mission execution.
• Experience with Behaviour Trees for navigation and autonomous mission execution.
• Experience with SLAM frameworks such as Cartographer, RTAB-Map, LIO-SAM, FAST-LIO, ORB-SLAM or similar.
• Experience with LiDAR-inertial, visual-inertial or other advanced multi-sensor localization approaches.
• Experience with simulation environments such as Gazebo or Isaac Sim.
• Experience with aerial robotic platforms.

Languages: ENGLISH

Level: Good

Additional Information

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND BENEFITS:
Our laboratory is located in Cerdanyola del Vallès, just outside Barcelona (Spain). Barcelona, besides being easily connected to the rest of Europe, offers excellent quality of life and a vibrant robotics ecosystem rich with initiatives, research groups, robotics companies, and engaging events—with many more opportunities emerging continuously!

Additionally, we offer:

• Permanent contract.
• Hybrid work model (home office/office).
• Flexible working hours, shorter workdays on Fridays, and summer schedules.
• Flexible remuneration package (health insurance, transport, lunch, studies/training, and kindergarten).
• Professional growth through Eurecat Academy courses, weekly thematic sessions on Eurecat’s areas of knowledge, and language training (English, Catalan, Spanish).