Who we are? Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) is a leading Research and Technology Organisation providing a portfolio of operations research, training, and consultancy services to Industry across the following four thematic pillars: Digitisation, Sustainable Manufacturing, Design for Manufacturing, and Robotics and Automation. As a leading manufacturing Research & Technology Organisation with labs and industrial pilot lines in Dublin and Mullingar, IMR works with leading global and indigenous brands to demystify and de‑risk new and emerging technologies and to deliver high‑impact collaborative research and services to enable advanced manufacturing for a broad range of clients across Ireland’s manufacturing network.
What IMR offers: An opportunity to contribute to the national economic growth agenda
A competitive salary and pension
A friendly and flexible working environment with State‑of‑the‑art Innovation Centres
Lots of diversity in terms of people, technology, projects and ideas
The opportunity to join a dynamic and committed team
Interaction with a diverse range of industrial clients and state partners
5 weeks holidays
The Robotics and Automation Team: The core of IMR’s Robotics and Automation Team is to accelerate industry adoption of intelligent automation, combining applied research with hands‑on industry demonstrations, pilot implementations, and technology translation. The team works closely with manufacturers to implement scalable robotic solutions that enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability across the manufacturing sector.
The Role: Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) is seeking a Senior Researcher – Robotic Systems and Remanufacturing to support the Robotics and Automation team in an EU Project on a 23‑month contract basis. The successful candidate will support the team in developing and deploying advanced automation and robotics solutions as part of IMR’s growing portfolio of national and EU research and innovation projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the integration and validation of novel, flexible, and adaptable robotic systems and solutions. The candidate will work closely with the project PI, contributing to applied research, experiments, proposals and industry demonstrations. The role requires a proactive, hands‑on approach to integrating multiple robotic systems to work effectively with humans and other machines. The candidate must be motivated to contribute to research projects that deliver real‑world impact for industrial partners and be capable of applying technical knowledge to novel environments and emerging challenges.
Key Responsibilities: Support the translation of large‑scale pilot line requirements into functional and operational specifications, including interfaces, performance metrics, safety and validation criteria.
Contribute to the modelling of pilot‑line architecture, workflows, and system interfaces, supporting traceability between requirements, design choices and verification activities.
Assist in the development and integration of robotic, mechatronic and automation solutions, including end‑effectors, vision systems, IO, PLC‑based controls and robotic manipulation tasks.
Use ROS2 for robotic system integration and simulation tools such as Gazebo and Isaac Sim to validate layouts, workflows and automation concepts before deployment; MoveIt experience is desirable.
Support circular re‑design activities by contributing to CAD‑based development of tooling, jigs, fixtures and automation concepts for de‑/remanufacturing operations.
Assist with simulation and validation of robotic cells, assemblies and process sequences to assess feasibility, access, safety, quality and operational performance.
Contribute to prototype integration, iterative testing and pre‑pilot validation trials, including data collection, analysis and reporting of technical results.
Contribute to applied research projects, including data collection, analysis and documentation of experimental results.
Maintain technical documentation, including requirements inputs, interface descriptions, test procedures, integration records and research reports.
Required Skills and Experience: PhD degree in Robotics, Mechatronics, Automation or a related engineering or scientific discipline is required with a bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics or Mechanical Engineering.
Minimum 3 years of relevant applied research or industrial R&D experience in robotics, AI, automation or mechatronic systems, including experience contributing to large‑scale national or EU‑funded collaborative projects.
Hands‑on experience with robotic integration, tooling, sensors, vision systems and hardware‑software interfacing.
A strong interest in industrial automation, robotics solutions and applied research challenges.
Strong programming skills in Python and C++.
Experience with Docker and DevOps practices for containerised deployment, version‑controlled development and integration of robotic software workflows.
Experience with Ubuntu, ROS2, MoveIt and simulation environments such as Gazebo or Isaac Sim.
Experience with CAD and digital engineering tools for system layout, integration or design validation; exposure to Siemens NX, Nastran or Process Simulate would be an advantage.
Experience with UR, Fanuc and/or KUKA robotic systems.
Experience with AI/ML or data‑driven engineering tools would be beneficial, especially for design, defect assessment or optimisation workflows.
Understanding of pilot‑line deployment, system validation, safety and interoperability in industrial environments.
Location: IMR offices are located in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin and Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. This position is based in our Mullingar office. The role requires an on‑site presence of 75% of time per week. Travel between offices and client sites will be required from time to time.
Salary & Benefits: This position will command a package consisting of basic salary (€47,405 – €51,993 depending on qualifications and experience), employer pension contribution and 5 weeks holidays.
IMR is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We actively promote equity and equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences and identities. We do not discriminate based on age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. We strive to ensure our recruitment processes are fair, accessible and free from bias.
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