Postdoc in Robotics Manipulation for Autonomous Mining

If you are establishing your career as a robotics scientist and engineer and want to work at the cutting edge of autonomous robotic manipulation in harsh, unstructured environments, this position offers a unique opportunity.

You will work with real robots, real sensors, and real physical interaction problems, contributing directly to the development of autonomous mining systems capable of operating underground with minimal human intervention. By joining this project, you will strengthen your scientific profile while gaining deep hands-on experience in mobile manipulation, contact-rich robotics, and system-level integration within a high-impact European research collaboration.

Responsibilities Your overall focus will be to design, implement, and experimentally validate robotic manipulation and physical interaction capabilities for autonomous mining applications. You will work closely with researchers in robotics, sensing, and autonomy, and collaborate with both academic and industrial partners across Europe.Your primary tasks will be to:

• Design and implement manipulation strategies for mobile robotic platforms operating in unstructured mining environments
• Develop control methods for physical interaction, contact-rich manipulation, and force-aware behaviors
• Integrate robotic manipulators with mobile bases, perception systems, and onboard sensors
• Program and deploy robotic systems for experimental validation in laboratory and field-like environments
• Develop and integrate sensor-based perception for manipulation and interaction tasks
• Contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, and project deliverables
• Support supervision of MSc and PhD students related to the project

Qualifications You must have a PhD degree in robotics, mechatronics, control, or a related field.

We expect you to have:

• Solid experience in programming and deploying robotic systems, including real hardware
• Strong background in robotic manipulation and/or mobile manipulation
• Proven experience with physical interaction, contact dynamics, or force-controlled robotics
• Experience integrating and using robotic sensors (e.g., vision, force/torque, proprioceptive sensors)
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in an international research team
• Strong written and spoken English skills

We offer DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more aboutcareer paths at DTU here.

Further information Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Matteo Fumagalli,mafum@dtu.dk.

You can read more about DTU Electro at www.electro.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU atDTU – Moving to Denmark.

Application procedure Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 5 March 2026 (23:59 Danish time).Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English)
• List of publications

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The position is hosted at the Department of Electrical and Photonics Engineering (DTU Electro) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). DTU Electro conducts cutting-edge research spanning robotics, control systems, electronics, photonics, autonomous systems, and sustainable technologies. The department combines expertise in electrical and photonics engineering to develop innovative solutions addressing societal challenges — from autonomous systems and sensing technologies to energy systems and communication infrastructure — while fostering a highly international research and education environment.

Within DTU Electro, the Control, Robotics and Embodied AI (CREA) research group focuses on pioneering automation and robotic technologies that integrate intelligent systems with engineered platforms. CREA’s mission is to create next-generation robotics and automation by developing systems that combine advanced control, mechatronics, and artificial intelligence while preserving human agency. The group’s research spans mechatronic system design, system modeling and learning, control theory, and system supervision, with applications across domains including energy, transport, healthcare, mining, logistics, and security. CREA is deeply engaged in both fundamental research and real-world technological development, collaborating broadly with academic and industrial partners in Europe and beyond.

Technology for people DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.