aQuatonomous - Water Research Hiring

aQuatonomous is a multidisciplinary student engineering design team at Queen’s University focused on building autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) for international competition. We compete annually at RoboBoat, designing and developing boats capable of fully autonomous operation in real-world environments.

Beyond competition, aQuatonomous is committed to applying our platform to real-world environmental challenges. As we prepare for the 2026–2027 season, we are hiring leadership roles for the Ecological Sciences & Water Research (ESWR) team to expand the impact of our platform into aquatic research and sustainability-driven projects.

🌱 ESWR Team Overview

The Ecological Sciences and Water Research (ESWR) team extends aQuatonomous beyond competition and into applied aquatic research. ESWR works at the intersection of engineering, environmental science, and community impact, using our ASV platform to support water research, fieldwork, and sustainability-driven projects.

The team focuses on developing environmental sensing systems, conducting biological and chemical analysis, and collaborating with research labs and community partners to generate meaningful environmental data.

🔷 ESWR Director (1 Position)

As ESWR Director, you will lead projects that use the aQuatonomous platform for environmental research and sustainability initiatives. You will work closely with other subteams to integrate sensors and data systems onto the boat while coordinating with research labs and environmental partners.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of environmental sensing projects using the ASV platform
• Work with electrical and software teams to integrate environmental sensors (e.g., pH, water quality, and other aquatic measurements)
• Coordinate field testing and data collection efforts
• Build collaborations with research labs, local organizations, and environmental groups
• Help expand the team’s environmental research initiatives beyond competition
• Support documentation and communication of research findings

🔬 Wet Lab Lead (1 Position)

The Wet Lab Lead focuses on the scientific and biological research side of ESWR. This role is responsible for designing and conducting experiments, analyzing samples, and supporting the environmental science component of the team.

Responsibilities:

• Lead biological and chemical testing of collected water samples
• Design experiments related to water quality, environmental sensing, and aquatic ecosystems
• Work with the ESWR Director to define research questions and testing methodologies
• Analyze environmental data and support interpretation of results
• Help validate and calibrate environmental sensors used on the boat

Support documentation of research methods and findings
   
⚙️🌊 Aquatic Systems Engineering Lead (1 Position)
The Aquatic Systems Engineering Lead bridges the gap between environmental research and the engineering systems that make it possible. This role focuses on designing and integrating the mechanical, electrical, and software infrastructure required to successfully deploy environmental sensing systems on the aQuatonomous ASV platform.
You will work closely with the ESWR Director and Wet Lab Lead to translate research goals into reliable hardware and software systems that can operate in real-world aquatic environments.
Responsibilities:

• Lead the engineering development of ESWR research systems on the ASV platform
  
• Design and integrate mechanical mounts, electrical systems, and software interfaces for environmental sensors
  
• Work with electrical and autonomy teams to connect sensors to onboard compute and data systems
  
• Ensure reliable sensor communication, and data logging
  
• Support the design of deployable sensing payloads and modular research hardware
  
• Coordinate testing and validation of environmental sensing systems in field conditions
  
• Help develop new engineering solutions that expand the ASV’s environmental research capabilities

🌊 Why Join ESWR?

This is your chance to:

• Apply robotics and engineering to real-world environmental problems
• Work at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and environmental science
• Conduct hands-on research and field testing
• Help expand the impact of aQuatonomous beyond robotics competition

📅 Additional Information

Application Deadline: April 5th, 2026
Term: May 2026 – May 2027
Time Commitment: ~5–10 hours/week depending on project activity

Contact Information

For questions about the position or application process, please contact:

Email: aquatonomous @engsoc.queensu.ca

aQuatonomous is a multidisciplinary student engineering design team at Queen’s University focused on building autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) for international competition. We compete annually at RoboBoat, designing and developing boats capable of fully autonomous operation in real-world environments.

Beyond competition, aQuatonomous is committed to applying our platform to real-world environmental challenges. As we prepare for the 2026–2027 season, we are hiring leadership roles for the Ecological Sciences & Water Research (ESWR) team to expand the impact of our platform into aquatic research and sustainability-driven projects.

🌱 ESWR Team Overview

The Ecological Sciences and Water Research (ESWR) team extends aQuatonomous beyond competition and into applied aquatic research. ESWR works at the intersection of engineering, environmental science, and community impact, using our ASV platform to support water research, fieldwork, and sustainability-driven projects.

The team focuses on developing environmental sensing systems, conducting biological and chemical analysis, and collaborating with research labs and community partners to generate meaningful environmental data.

🔷 ESWR Director (1 Position)

As ESWR Director, you will lead projects that use the aQuatonomous platform for environmental research and sustainability initiatives. You will work closely with other subteams to integrate sensors and data systems onto the boat while coordinating with research labs and environmental partners.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of environmental sensing projects using the ASV platform
• Work with electrical and software teams to integrate environmental sensors (e.g., pH, water quality, and other aquatic measurements)
• Coordinate field testing and data collection efforts
• Build collaborations with research labs, local organizations, and environmental groups
• Help expand the team’s environmental research initiatives beyond competition
• Support documentation and communication of research findings

🔬 Wet Lab Lead (1 Position)

The Wet Lab Lead focuses on the scientific and biological research side of ESWR. This role is responsible for designing and conducting experiments, analyzing samples, and supporting the environmental science component of the team.

Responsibilities:

• Lead biological and chemical testing of collected water samples
• Design experiments related to water quality, environmental sensing, and aquatic ecosystems
• Work with the ESWR Director to define research questions and testing methodologies
• Analyze environmental data and support interpretation of results
• Help validate and calibrate environmental sensors used on the boat

Support documentation of research methods and findings
   
⚙️🌊 Aquatic Systems Engineering Lead (1 Position)
The Aquatic Systems Engineering Lead bridges the gap between environmental research and the engineering systems that make it possible. This role focuses on designing and integrating the mechanical, electrical, and software infrastructure required to successfully deploy environmental sensing systems on the aQuatonomous ASV platform.
You will work closely with the ESWR Director and Wet Lab Lead to translate research goals into reliable hardware and software systems that can operate in real-world aquatic environments.
Responsibilities:

• Lead the engineering development of ESWR research systems on the ASV platform
  
• Design and integrate mechanical mounts, electrical systems, and software interfaces for environmental sensors
  
• Work with electrical and autonomy teams to connect sensors to onboard compute and data systems
  
• Ensure reliable sensor communication, and data logging
  
• Support the design of deployable sensing payloads and modular research hardware
  
• Coordinate testing and validation of environmental sensing systems in field conditions
  
• Help develop new engineering solutions that expand the ASV’s environmental research capabilities

🌊 Why Join ESWR?

This is your chance to:

• Apply robotics and engineering to real-world environmental problems
• Work at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and environmental science
• Conduct hands-on research and field testing
• Help expand the impact of aQuatonomous beyond robotics competition

📅 Additional Information

Application Deadline: April 5th, 2026
Term: May 2026 – May 2027
Time Commitment: ~5–10 hours/week depending on project activity

Contact Information

For questions about the position or application process, please contact:

Email: aquatonomous @engsoc.queensu.ca

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