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Control Engineer Postdoc Jobs in Ashburn, VA (NOW HIRING)

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Control Engineer Postdoc information

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$36.8K

$82.8K

$129.4K

How much do control engineer postdoc jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for control engineer postdoc in Ashburn, VA is $82,832.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $61,400.00 and $99,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a control engineer postdoc?

Control Engineer Postdocs are researchers with a Ph.D. who specialize in the design, analysis, and implementation of control systems. They work in academic or industrial research settings, often focusing on advancing knowledge in areas like automation, robotics, or process control. Their responsibilities include conducting experiments, developing new algorithms or methods, publishing research findings, and sometimes mentoring students. This position is typically a temporary role intended to further develop expertise before pursuing a permanent academic or industry position.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a control engineer postdoc?

To thrive as a Control Engineer Postdoc, you need an advanced degree (PhD) in control engineering or a related field, with strong expertise in systems modeling, control theory, and applied mathematics. Proficiency in simulation tools such as MATLAB/Simulink and experience with programming languages like Python or C++, as well as familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop and embedded systems, are typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, effective communication, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively make a candidate stand out. These skills and qualities are critical for conducting advanced research, developing innovative control solutions, and contributing to interdisciplinary projects.

What are some common challenges faced by control engineer postdocs when transitioning from academia to industry-focused projects?

One common challenge for Control Engineer Postdocs moving into industry-oriented projects is adapting to faster-paced development cycles and stricter project deadlines. Unlike academic research, industry projects often require practical, scalable solutions rather than theoretical proofs. Additionally, postdocs may need to collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams, including software developers, product managers, and hardware engineers, making strong communication and teamwork skills essential. This transition also often involves working with proprietary tools and adhering to industry standards, which may require additional training.

What is the difference between Control Engineer Postdoc vs Control Engineer?

AspectControl Engineer PostdocControl Engineer
Required CredentialsPhD in Engineering or related field, research experienceBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, professional experience
Work EnvironmentAcademic research labs, universitiesIndustrial settings, manufacturing, automation companies
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutionsManufacturing firms, tech companies
Common Search & ComparisonResearch-focused roles, academic positionsIndustry-focused roles, engineering positions

The main difference between a Control Engineer Postdoc and a Control Engineer lies in their focus and work environment. A Control Engineer Postdoc is primarily involved in academic research, requiring a PhD and working in universities or research labs. In contrast, a Control Engineer typically works in industry, applying engineering principles in manufacturing or automation settings. Both roles require a strong background in control systems, but their career paths and work environments differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Control Engineer Postdoc jobs in Ashburn, VA?

For Control Engineer Postdoc jobs in Ashburn, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Control Engineer Postdoc jobs in Ashburn, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Control Engineer Postdoc jobs in Ashburn, VA are:

Infographic showing various Control Engineer Postdoc job openings in Ashburn, VA as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 69% Full Time, and 31% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $82,832 per year, or $39.8 per hour.

Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0004167)

Gaithersburg, MD • On-site

Johns Hopkins University
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 10K+ employees

$53K - $72K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago


Johns Hopkins University rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 71 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Description
PREP Research Associate
This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields. Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration's scientific research.
Research Title:
Nanofabrication and metrology specialist
The work will entail:
This work aims to develop processes for fabricating novel materials and structures, with the goal of characterizing and analyzing the fundamental physics of these systems. For more information about the group, see: https://www.nist.gov/pml/nanoscale-device-characterization-division/nanoscale-processes-and-measurements-group/scanning.
U.S. Citizen Preferred
Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
§ Designing and fabricating van der Waals heterostructure devices, including rhombohedral graphene and twisted graphene multilayers, for investigation with scanning probe microscopy.
§ Fabrication of superlattices in 2d materials via e-beam lithography.
§ Perform measurements with scanning probe microscopy techniques.
§ Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.
§ Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been archived or otherwise transmitted to the larger organization.
Qualifications
§ A PhD degree in experimental condensed matter physics.
§ Five years of experience in fabricating nanoscale patterns at complex oxide interfaces using conductive atomic force microscopy (c-AFM) and ultra-low voltage electron beam lithography (ULV-EBL).
§ Three years of experience in nanoscale patterning of ferroelectric materials, using ultra-low voltage electron beam lithography.
§ Five years of experience in cleanroom-based nanofabrication of nanoelectronics and quantum devices, including layout design, fume hood, resist-based lithography (photolithography and electron-beam lithography), thin-film deposition and etching.
§ Three years of experience in fabricating two-dimensional layered material devices, including graphene and hexagonal boron nitride heterostructures stacking and transferring.
§ Five years of experience in electrical transport measurements at ultra-low temperatures.
§ Five years of experience in radio frequency (RF) measurements at ultra-low temperatures.
§ Five years of experience in the maintenance and operation of a dilution refrigerator.
§ Five years of experience in handling cryogens, including liquid helium transfer.
§ Experience in operating a multi-modal measurements scanning probe system, including STM, AFM, and electrical transport measurements in a single system operating at ultra-low temperatures and in ultra-high vacuum.
§ Experience in the preparation of atomically sharp probe tips for STM and AFM measurements.
§ Experience with ultra-high vacuum (UHV) techniques, including assembly, types of UHV pumps, in-situ ion sputtering, and reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) measurements.
§ Experience in dilute atom evaporation in UHV for SPM experiments on single isolated deposited atoms.
§ Five years of experience in research of complex oxide physics, including in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) heterostructures, with a least three peer-reviewed publications.
§ Three years of experience in research of 2D quantum materials, including graphene-based heterostructures and related van der Waals materials.
§ Research experience in superconducting materials.
§ Research experience with SPM probe-based superconducting Josephson junctions.
§ Five years of experience in developing and programming LabVIEW VIs for electrical transport measurements and spectroscopic mapping of STM and AFM measurements on the Nanonis SPM control system platform.
§ Five years of experience in developing and programming LabVIEW Vis for general instrument control and transport measurements.
Application Instructions
Please upload the following with your application:
• CV/Resume
*Please limit C.V to 3 pages only and ONLY include a valid email address for your contact info. Your resume will not be considered if the following information is included on your CV/resume.
Self portraits
Phone number
Home address/Country
Citizenship status
Languages spoken
Sex/Gender
• Privacy Act Statement
Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c) Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.
PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.
Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1: NIST Associates.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.

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About Johns Hopkins University

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Gilman believed that teaching and research go hand in hand—that success in one depends on success in the other—and that a modern university must do both well. He also believed that sharing our knowledge and discoveries would help make the world a better place. In 145 years, we haven’t strayed from that vision. This is still a destination for excellent, ambitious scholars and a world leader in teaching and research. Distinguished professors mentor students in the arts and music, humanities, social and natural sciences, engineering, international studies, education, business, and the health professions. Those same faculty members, along with their colleagues at the university’s Applied Physics Laboratory, have made us the nation’s leader in federal research and development funding every year since 1979. That’s a fitting distinction for America’s first research university, a place that has revolutionized higher education in the U.S. and continues to bring knowledge and discoveries to the world.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Baltimore, MD, US

Year founded

1876