Faculty Positions in Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Northumbria is a research-intensive university that unlocks potential for all, changing lives regionally, nationally and internationally through education and research, tackling the global challenges of our age to transform society. We have transformed in recent years, combining a focus on research excellence and social mobility, challenging the status quo to become a new kind of university. Our progress was recognised by Times Higher Education (THE) which named Northumbria its University of the Year 2022 and more recently, Northumbria was named both Research University and Modern University of the Year in the inaugural Daily Mail University Guide 2024. Northumbria is ranked in the top 25 in the UK for research power, in the latest Research Excellence Framework with gold rating for student outcomes and silver overall in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.

In late 2023, two awards totalling £25 million from the UK Space Agency and Lockheed Martin Space, one of the largest global research and development companies in the space and satellite technology sector, have enabled Northumbria to begin construction of the new North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST). Northumbria has also recently been named as one of 12 Centres for Doctoral Training in Artificial Intelligence as part of a major £117m funding announcement by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The University is now seeking to build a research group in robotics to expand and diversify our capabilities in the AI subject area through the establishment of a new research cluster in Robotics and Autonomous Systems. 

We are seeking to recruit a team of academics, including a Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professors in Robotics and Autonomous Systems to contribute to the leadership of this subject area of research at Northumbria. We encourage applications from any field of this disciplinary area but particularly welcome applications from researchers with expertise and interests in Robotics for Extreme Environments, particularly Space, Human Robot Interaction, Bioinspired Robots, UAVs and drones, and General Robotics Cognition and AI.

You will be part of a growing Computer and Information Sciences department and a lively academic community of researchers based in an award-winning, purpose-built building at the heart of our campus in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. You will contribute to educational activities in the Department and Faculty including undertaking individual and joint research to produce high-quality academic outputs; designing, developing and delivering high-quality teaching activities; and participating in external activity to generate income and promote the subject area. We value applicants that display good academic citizenship including mentoring and supporting colleagues, promoting good practice across all aspects of academic life.

You must be qualified to Doctoral level in Computing or a closely related discipline and have an independent programme in a relevant active field of research. We seek a commitment to, and enthusiasm for, delivering innovative education at all levels. If you are not already experienced at higher education teaching, you will be supported by the University to become a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

How to Apply

An executive search firm, Perret Laver, has been appointed to manage the recruitment process. Perrett Laver will support the University in helping to identify the widest possible field of qualified candidates and assisting in the assessment of candidates against the requirements for the role.

If you wish to discuss any of the roles in Robotics and Autonomous Systems in more detail please contact Annabel Holt at annabel.holt@perrettlaver.com or on +44 (0)20 7340 6219.

Applications should consist of a full CV detailing academic and professional qualifications, full employment history, and relevant achievements and should be accompanied by a covering letter describing briefly their suitability for this role, why the appointment is of interest, and what they believe they can bring to the role. These can be uploaded at https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/ quoting the reference number 7086.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 11^th March 2024. It is anticipated that interviews will take place in late April.

Please do not apply through this careers site as your application will not be progressed.

Northumbria University is a great place to work. We empower our exceptional people to achieve shared ambitions and promote a sustainable work life balance. We are an on-campus organisation where colleagues work regular patterns of hours and on campus, with some flexibility on the timing of their hours and the location of their work in discussion with their manager. We offer a wide range of benefits including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, a generous holiday entitlement, continued commitment to your learning and development, and more.

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our staff. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community.  The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We are also a member of the Euraxess network, which delivers information and support to professional researchers. The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process. 

We welcome applications from the UK and across the world. Visit our web pages for details about Relocation Assistance.

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