Job Description &

Person Specification

Section 1
Role Overview

Job title: Research Fellow in Networked Autonomy

Vacancy reference: 4610

School/Professional Service Unit: School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing

Full time
Job type:
Fixed Term Contract for 30-36 months

37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to

Hours of work:
Friday. Flexible working will be considered.

Salary level 5 – range £37,337 to £41,406 per annum,

Salary details:
with potential progression up to £51,298 per annum

Professor Antonios Tsourdos (Year 1)

Line Manager:
Professor Weisi Guo (Year 2-3)

Start date: As soon as possible

Closing date for applications: 17 Sept 2023

Section 2
About Cranfield University
Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships is
creating leaders in technology and management globally. Find out more about our unique impact,
and our vision, mission and values here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise
their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall
Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options
for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity
Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
and Flexible Working here.

www.cranfield.ac.uk
February 2020, V3 2
Section 3
About School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing
The School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing (SATM) is a leading provider of
postgraduate level engineering education, research and technology support to individuals and
organisations. At the forefront of aerospace, manufacturing and transport systems technology and
management for over 70 years, we deliver multi-disciplinary solutions to the complex challenges
facing industry.

Visit the Cranfield website to learn more about the School’s current research activities, taught
programmes and impact:

Learn more about Aerospace

About the Centre for Autonomous and Cyberphysical

Systems
Our reputation for leading in the field of aerospace, space, and cyberphysical systems, their
autonomy, communication systems, and signal processing has been established through more than
thirty years of research into this field.

We work in partnership with our industrial partners to provide high quality training, research,
development and consultancy to meet the challenges of these competitive markets. We have an
outstanding international reputation for the quality of our work and our capability of performing both
theoretical and experimental studies. Our work covers academic provision and research. Research
works span from fundamental research and development to single client contract research and
development.

Learn more about the Centre for Autonomous and Cyberphysical Systems.

Organisational Chart

Prof Antonios
Tsourdos
Head of Centre

Prof Weisi Guo

Chair in Human
Machine
Intelligence

Role:
Research
Fellow

www.cranfield.ac.uk
February 2020, V3 3
Section 4
Job Details
Job Purpose

We are recruiting a highly motivated Research Fellow post. You will contribute to a large team in
research activities under the Centre for Autonomous and Cyberphysical Systems, especially
concerning the specific activities of:
 EPSRC Trustworthy Autonomous Systems: Security (Year 1) - research on securing
navigation and control planes for connected autonomous systems. Working with other project
PhDs and Postdocs in wireless communications, control theory, cybersecurity, and machine
learning.
 EPSRC Future Networks Hub in Distributed Algorithms (Year 2-3) – research in connected
autonomous systems, demonstrating research synergy from the consortium and wider UK in
our platforms.

You will be expected to collaborate with the existing staff working in emerging research and our
partner university locations based across the UK (approximate 5-10% of time). There is a strong
emphasis on working with others to tackle low technology readiness challenges and developing the
demonstrations. An appetite to work with practical autonomous platforms, coding and embedded
systems is desirable.

Key Deliverables

% of
Description of Deliverables
time

Research 95%

Work with existing colleagues in the Centre and industrial partner to develop
future networked autonomy research. Duties include:
 Conduct core research at an internationally leading level
1  Engage and visit academic partners across UK to inform the research
 Integrate key research from academic partners across UK into our
testbeds
 Develop a research vision and roadmap
 Assist academics in grant proposal writing and bid development

General

Contribute to supporting Cranfield’s research culture and taking on citizenship

2 roles, as may be relevant. 5%
Contribute to the effective operation of the Aerospace Theme.

Carry out other activities as directed by your manager.

www.cranfield.ac.uk
February 2020, V3 4
 Ensure that Environmental, Health and Safety policies are adhered to as
required by the School and University.

Please be advised that the percentages allocated for the key deliverables may be adapted to take
into account the needs of the School and /or University.

www.cranfield.ac.uk
February 2020, V3 5
Section 5
Am I suited to this role?

Criteria Essential Desirable

PhD (or close to completion) in a PhD in wireless

Education / relevant computer science or communications, control
Qualifications electronic/information engineering. engineering.

A good record of accomplishment in Research in cyber security

research outputs through peer-reviewed aspects of wireless
publication and conferences of the communications and/or
sector. autonomy.
Experience
Evidence of significant independent
contribution to the design and execution
of research.

Experience in designing, training, and Experience of programming

validation of autonomy for robotics or to embedded platforms such
Knowledge drones with wireless connectivity. as software defined radio,
drones.

Ability to prioritize and meet strict Practical experience with

deadlines. engaging and merging ideas.

Ability to travel independently across UK

Skills / Aptitudes to meet academic partners.

Ability to engage with industry and

diverse stakeholders and develop joint
projects.

Ability to demonstrate our values: Excellent communication and

Ambition, Impact, Respect and presentation skills, with the
Community. ability to interact with
Values different type of customers:
students, industrial and
research partners.

Capable of interacting effectively with

senior staff and with colleagues in an
Other academic research and teaching group.

www.cranfield.ac.uk
February 2020, V3 6