Summary of Position
The Critical and Emerging Technologies Division's Singapore office is ASTM's Asia hub, working with regional research institutes, industry, and standards bodies to move critical and emerging technology standards from research question to adopted practice. Regional demand has shifted beyond additive manufacturing to AI and robotics, in support of ASTM Committees F45 (Robotics, Automation, and Autonomous Systems), F48 (Exoskeletons and Exosuits), and F50 (Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Systems). F50 alone drew more than 100 organizations from over 20 countries within months of its formation in 2026. Meeting that demand takes hands-on robotics and AI engineering capability on the Singapore team. This is a newly created technical position established to build it.
We are seeking a technically grounded, self-directed, and collaborative AI and Robotics Engineer within ASTM who will bring demonstrated robotics and AI engineering expertise to the division's standards, qualification, and program work in Asia. In general, the Engineer will be the technical focal point in the region for AI and robotics standards activity: identifying standards gaps, supporting work items and pre-standardization research, designing and running the test and evaluation work behind them, and connecting regional technical partners to ASTM's committees and programs, which includes training and certification programs
The division develops standards alongside the technology rather than years later, which puts a premium on getting the technical work right the first time. This role owns its technical judgments, documents them, and stands behind them.
Specifically, the AI and Robotics Engineer, will:
- Support standards development in Committees F45, F48, and F50: draft and review technical content for work items, contribute to task groups, coordinate research-to-standards projects, and track ballots and committee actions relevant to the region.
- Conduct gap analyses and roadmapping for AI and robotics standards, working with the division's robotics lead and Data and AI group, so that regional work aligns with division roadmaps.
- Plan and deliver applied research, pilot projects, and test and evaluation on AI and robotic systems with regional partners, from technical scoping through test method development, instrumentation, data collection, analysis, and final report.
- Develop and deliver training and support certification and qualification programs in AI and robotics, including course content, instruction, and assessment and credential development aligned to the relevant standards.
- Provide technical content and program support for the division's AI and robotics convenings run from Singapore, including the AI and robotics tracks of ICAM, standalone robotics or AI events, Snapshot Workshops, and partner-hosted technical sessions, working with the Events team.
- Engage regional research institutes, national program offices, industry, and standards bodies (for example A*STAR, ARTC, the National Robotics Programme, and Enterprise Singapore) on technical matters, and bring their experts into ASTM committee work.
- Track developments in AI and robotics standardization, regulation, and industry practice across Asia, and translate them into technical briefings, reports, and presentations for internal leadership, committee audiences, and regional partners.
- Take initiative on work outside the immediate assignment when it serves the program, and keep the Regional Director, Asia informed without needing to be asked.
Please note that some travel will be required for this position (approximately 15-20%).
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in robotics, mechatronics, computer science, electrical or mechanical engineering, artificial intelligence, or a closely related technical field.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of hands-on industry or applied research experience in robotics, autonomous systems, or applied AI and machine learning. Experience in manufacturing or materials engineering alone does not meet this requirement.
- Demonstrated hands-on engineering work: programming, integrating, or commissioning robotic or autonomous systems, or developing, training, and validating AI and machine learning models in a production or laboratory setting.
- Working proficiency in Python, and with robotics middleware such as ROS or ROS 2, or with mainstream machine learning frameworks.
- Demonstrated experience designing and running test and evaluation of robotic or AI system performance, safety, or reliability, with documented methods and results.
- Demonstrated ability to run technical projects end to end: scoping, execution, documentation, and reporting.
- Working knowledge of how technical standards are developed and used, or the ability to learn ASTM's consensus process quickly.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including technical writing for committee and partner audiences.
- Highly dependable, reliable, responsible, responsive, resourceful, and independent individual who is flexible and adaptive.
- Ability to work closely with a diverse group of staff, technical committees, individual technical experts, and contractors.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive organizational information.
- Eligibility to work in Singapore.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree or PhD in robotics, artificial intelligence, or a closely related technical field.
- Experience applying robotics or AI safety, performance, or testing standards and frameworks, including international references (for example ISO 10218, ISO 13482, ISO/IEC 42001, or the NIST AI Risk Management Framework).
- Familiarity with standardization bodies such as ASTM, ISO, IEC, or other regulatory organizations, and with the standards ecosystems of Singapore and the wider region.
- Experience organizing or contributing technical content to conferences, workshops, or industry events.
- Experience working with research institutes, consortia, or public agencies in Asia.
- Established professional network across Asia's robotics, AI, research, and standards communities.
- Passion for innovation, technology, and enterprise development.
About the CET Division
ASTM International's Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) Division convenes industry, government, and academia, accelerating the path to standards for the technologies reshaping the global economy. The division engages these technologies at the intersections where standards are needed most, which creates the opportunity to develop standards alongside technologies rather than years after they have spread across society. Its work runs in three stages: pre-standardization gap identification, consensus-based standardization, and post-standardization adoption support. Its technical committees cover additive and advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence in manufacturing systems, autonomous systems and robotics, commercial spaceflight, and unmanned aircraft systems, delivered through the ASTM AM Center of Excellence, the ASCET Center of Excellence, Wohlers Associates, and the ICAM conference. Roughly 60 staff operate across 12 time zones and four continents. The division moves at the pace of the industries it serves, and it holds the work to the evidence.
About ASTM International
ASTM International is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services. Over 13,000 ASTM standards operate globally. Defined and set by ASTM, these standards improve the lives of millions every day. Combined with our innovative business services, they enhance performance and help people around the world have confidence in the things they buy and use. The organization's headquarters is in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, about 5 mi (8.0 km) northwest of Philadelphia. Founded in 1898 as the American Section of the International Association for Testing Materials, ASTM International predates other standards organizations such as the BSI (1901), IEC (1906), DIN (1917), ANSI (1918), AFNOR (1926), and ISO (1947).
