Life at Dubai Future Foundation
Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) aims to realize the wise vision of Dubai’s leadership to institutionalize the envisioned future and forward-thinking methodologies, while positioning Dubai as the leading city of the future. In partnership with its local and global partners from governments, companies, startups, and entrepreneurs, DFF drives joint efforts to collectively imagine, design, and execute the best possible future for humanity.
Under the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DFF, the DFF runs and oversees many futureproofing projects and initiatives, such as the Museum of the Future, Area 2071, The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution UAE, Dubai Future Accelerators, One Million Arab Coders, Dubai Future Academy, Dubai Future Solutions, Dubai Future Labs, Dubai Future Forum, etc. DFF’s efforts to share knowledge, adopt innovation, support entrepreneurs and innovative startups, build capacity, and promote forward-thinking and foresight principles contribute to Dubai’s ambitions to be a role model for the cities of the future through the power of unlimited imagination, innovation, foresight and disruptive mindset.
For more information on the initiatives, projects, and programs of Dubai Future Foundation, please visit the website: www.dubaifuture.ae
Where does this role fit into the bigger picture?
The robotics software engineer reports directly to the Research and Development Director and is part of the R&D Department within the Dubai Future Labs structure.
The Dubai Future Labs are focused on driving innovative ideas through rigorous scientific testing to push the existing boundaries of research applications. The Research and Development department is an open-innovation research concept integrating concurrent research with innovative processes and both private and public partnerships. The department is focused on co-creation experimentation, and evaluation of innovative ideas and technology in real-life test cases as well as applied research in the fields of robotics.
Robotics Software Engineer
As a robotics engineer, you will work with a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team to implement state of the art algorithms derived from world-class research. You will be part of a team working on the design and develop the next generation autonomous robots for indoor and outdoor applications. The ideal candidate should have experience in applied robotics research and expertise in various robotic components and systems. The candidate is expected to have fundamental understanding of robotic systems and how to develop and integrate various robotic components to be deployed in real world applications.
Your Responsibilities
• Evaluating design options, and coming up with engineering prototype options
• Designing, developing and customizing robotic sensor payload, electronics and actuators
• Conducting real-time experiments to assess the dynamics, endurance, stability and controllability of robotic systems
• Developing DOEs (Design of Experiments) and assisting other engineers in conducting these experiments, and analyzing the outcome
• Generating technical documentation, design documents, and reports that clearly detail all aspects of the robotic products and prototypes
• Working closely with other researchers and engineers to exploit various robot system modalities in order to achieve optimal guidance and control solutions
• Developing, testing and optimization of software modules needed for real-time control, estimation and maintain a functional fleet of quadrotors. These algorithms need to work under real-time constraints on robotic platforms, which have limited computational capabilities
• Interfacing with multi-disciplinary teams in order to develop per-specifications autonomous robotic systems
• Following software practices that produce maintainable code, including automated testing, continuous integration, code style conformity, and code review
• Engaging with external stakeholder(s) and sponsors on a regular basis to disseminate results and receive end-user feedback
Why this role is important?
This role makes the biggest impact by being organized, able to research, design and develop new innovative robotic systems, as well as identifying the strategic goals of the department. You will be a key member of the technical team to assist in creating successful partnerships, which is instrumental in successful robotic research projects. Your role in the organization will help create a positive reputation for the Dubai Future Foundation as a world-class robotic lab in the Middle East and help bring the UAE into the future.
What Dubai Future Foundation offers?
We will offer you a unique opportunity to work with people who are passionate about the future and establishing Dubai as one of the leading cities of the world. You will have the chance to work on exciting and new projects, work in a highly diverse and fast paced environment that fosters creativity, disruptive ideas, and innovation.
• You will have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Robotics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering or a closely related field
• You will have a minimum of 3 years of experience in robotic systems
• You will have commercial experience contributing to novel solution ideation and implementation
• You will be proficient in C/C++ and/or Python programmer with experience in a Linux-based software development environment (e.g., Familiarity with the CMake toolchain)
• You will have experience in testing and deploying algorithms on mobile robots or real representative data
• You will have experience with embedded systems and real-time operating systems
• You will have experience in developing and implementing algorithms for robotics and autonomous systems
• You will have soldering and hardware prototyping skills
• You will have the ability to design, build, fabricate and implement electronic and mechanical components in robotics for research and test purposes
• You will have strong analytical skills and mathematical foundation
• You will have experience in developing robust, safety-critical and efficient code
• You will have experience with a distributed version control system such as git
• You will have experience in ROS (ROS Industrial) and its development environment in C/C++ and Python
• You will be a collaborative team player with strong communication skills, with a willingness to learn from others and contribute back to the robotics community with publications or open-source code. You will be comfortable working independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team
• You will have experience working in a collaborative development environment, including paradigms such as continuous integration & delivery, V&V, design of experiments (DOEs) etc.
• You will be passionate about seeing robotics have a real-world, large-scale
• You will have experience with agile software development processes using Docker system
Skills that are nice to have
• Experience in deep learning will be a plus
• Experience with agile software development processes using Docker system
• Experience with decentralized visual SLAM and 3D mapping
• Experience using issue tracking systems (Jira)
