Universal Field Robots was founded to bring to market fully-autonomous robots with industrial-scale capabilities.
Vision
To be the most trusted robotics and automation company, accelerating the uptake of robots outdoors and transforming work from tedium to tech, while making workplaces safer. Equipped with cutting-edge sensing and computing technology, our robots are suited for all types of users, from mining to agriculture, construction and more.
Team
We are a dedicated team of mechanical, mechatronics and robotics engineers that has developed software to fully enable autonomous control of all our machines’ functions. We utilise advances in robotic physics simulations to digitally prototype the ideal solution before proceeding to real-world testing.
Jeff Sterling
Founder and Managing Director
We believe our products can improve the lives of people around the world. Our customers use our robots to get real work done, to make work safer, more productive and sustainable, and enable higher standards of living.
UFR machines are making a name for themselves as premium products and are known for their superior technology, quality and reliability. We use high quality components that are well engineered. We carefully listen to the needs of our customers so that our solutions exceed their expectations and excite them.
Universal Field Robots Founding Director Jeff Sterling is a mechanical engineer with over 35 years' experience. Jeff has a proven track record of delivering value through his extensive mining industry domain knowledge. He is highly skilled in projects involving robotics, automation, exploration, copper, nickel, earthworks, and capital.
The UFR Team
Our team is comprised of mechanical, mechatronics, robotics engineers and software developers, who are driven to improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of outdoor work through the use of autonomous field robots.
We thoroughly enjoy transforming construction machines into outdoor megabots that can complete a myriad of tasks in a variety of industry applications. Our agile team can take a concept from prototype to product in the field within a matter of months rather than years.
Team Universal Field Robots at our test site in Hamilton, Queensland.
Tim Cassell
Robotics Engineer
Tim Cassell has been working with Universal Field Robots since January 2016 in his role as a Robotics Engineer.
As a design engineer and roboticist, he has worked on a diverse range of exciting R and D projects for the development of autonomous field robots. This has involved integration of cutting-edge sensing and control hardware within the larger robotic control system. It has also involved the design of software for mapping, autonomous navigation and arm control among many other features and developments.
Rhys McKercher
Engineering Project Lead
Rhys McKercher has been working with Universal Field Robots since January 2018 in his roles as Robotics Engineer, and more recently Engineering Project Lead, developing autonomous field robots.
This is a rapidly advancing industry, which Rhys is extremely passionate about. Rhys has expertise in applying robotics to real world applications with a wide skill set including; machine control, computer vision, deep-learning, algorithms, robotic sensing and high-level behavioural planning.
Hai Doan
Project Engineer
Hai Doan has been working with Universal Field Robots since May 2018 in his role as a Mechanical and Project Engineer.
Prior to joining Team UFR, Hai studied Mechanical Engineering at The University of Queensland. Hai enjoys working at Universal Field Robots, as he gets to work on a diverse range of projects where he uses a lot of different skills that he wouldn't be able to use elsewhere.
Ross Clements
Mechanical Engineer
Ross Clements has been working with Universal Field Robots since September 2019 in his role as a Mechanical Engineer.
Before joining Universal Field Robots, Ross studied Mechanical Engineering at The University of Queensland. Ross was keen to join the team at UFR, as we are doing a lot of work with emerging technologies related to automation in mining and it was of high interest to him.
Jesse McVicar
Robotics Engineer
Jessie McVicar has been working with Universal Field Robots since January 2020 in her role as a Robotics Engineer.
Armed with a Bachelor of Engineering - BE with the Field Of Study: Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering and having previously completed an engineering internship at leading global geo-data specialist Fugro, Jessie is well equipped to assist the UFR team with her robotics and resources industry insights.
Daniel Duskovic
Undergraduate Engineer
Daniel Duskovic has been working with Universal Field Robots since December 2020 in his role as an Undergraduate Engineer.
Daniel is in his fourth year of a double degree in Business and Engineering at QUT, majoring in Finance and Mechatronics. He is passionate about learning and developing his skills in a wide range of disciplines and working in high performing teams to make an impact that matters.
Michael Somerfeld
Robotics Engineer
Michael Somerfeld has been working with Universal Field Robots since February 2020 in his role as a Robotics Engineer.
Armed with a Bachelor of Engineering - BE with the Fields of Study: Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering from Queensland University of Technology and having previously worked in Quality Assurance at leading global geo-data specialist Fugro and as a Cadet Engineer at UDCS Consulting, Michael is well equipped to assist the UFR team with his robotics and resources industry insights.
Nathan Griffin
Mechanical Engineering Intern
Nathan Griffin completed an internship with Universal Field Robots between November 2020 and September 2021.
Nathan is currently studying a Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Science at Queensland University of Technology. While studying, Nathan has gained useful experience and skills (including his internship at UFR) that he looks forward putting to good use in the future.
Current job positions
IT Systems Administrator
Eagle Farm, Brisbane QLD
$45 – $52 per hour
Networks & Systems Administration (Information & Communication Technology)
Unique Challenging Role in a Dynamic Exciting Company
Are you the type of person with genuine passion, who likes to utilise their broad technology skills to support the whole of business technology needs, solve issues and drive best practice?
Then we want you supporting our team who develop and maintain innovative and exciting autonomous robotic applications for a range of field capabilities.
Why We Need YouUFR is a growing technology business and our need for our IT systems to be secure, efficient and reliable has outgrown our other staff whose primary role is the development and support of robotics.
We need your skills because you will have responsibility for the day-to-day management of everything IT at UFR.
If you like to get involved, provide solutions and are up for a challenge then come join our team.
Your Key Result Areas Will Be:- Ensuring technology systems are secure, reliable, flexible, and sustainable.
- Respond to and resolve major incidents, systems and end user support and service requests.
- Complete and contribute to projects.
- Manage technology assets and licensing.
- Develop organisational technology knowledge and educate.
This is a new role and best suited to someone with a broad and detailed knowledge set, someone who can both perform the role, contribute refining the role and add value to UFR and our products.
Being on the cutting-edge of Robotics means we continuously explore and integrate new technologies into future product lines.
For you, this means that there will also be opportunities to assist with connectivity and security of remote devices.
UFR is an Exciting Place to WorkUniversal Field Robots (UFR) builds capable, robust outdoor robotics often to solve specific industry challenges using our built-in autonomous abilities.
We concentrate on solving the challenge by utilising our proven platforms in combination with existing commercial equipment. This allows us to be an industry leader in agility, delivering solutions in shorter timeframes and at more economical price points.
The UFR team is comprised of young mechanical, mechatronics, robotics engineers and software developers, who are driven to improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of outdoor work using autonomous field robots.
Our Mechanical Systems are designed and installed in-house at our R&D Technology Centre in Eagle Farm.
Choose to work with us and benefits for you include:
- Working with leading technologies.
- Exposure to innovative robotics projects.
- Career progression opportunities.
- Opportunities to work across multiple projects and products.
- Work with an enthusiastic and driven team of young engineers.
- Respectful and inclusive workplace of equal opportunity.
- Encouragement and opportunity to grow your skills and experience.
- Degree in Information Technology or relevant demonstratable experience.
- The ability to work on-site in Eagle Farm.
- 3 - 5 years of experience as a Systems Administration implementing and supporting:
- Microsoft Desktop, Microsoft Server, Active Directory, DHCP, DNS, and Group Policy
- Linux Server and Workstation
- Windows and Linux scripting, Powershell/Bash/csh
- Networking LAN, WAN, Switching, Routing, and WiFi
- NextGen Firewalls
- Microsoft 365 (Email, Teams, Sharepoint, Entra ID)
- Server virtualization, Hyper-V
- Storage appliances, NAS
- Backup and recovery
- Strong systems troubleshooting and administration abilities.
- Professional verbal and written communication skills.
- Knowledge of IT service management practices, ITIL.
- Technology project planning and delivery skills.
- Exposure to cybersecurity standards and best practices, ISO 27001, ASD Essential Eight.
- Industry Certifications.
- Fortinet firewalls
- Ubuntu Linux flavors and distributions
- Microsoft Azure, AWS
- Python, C++, ROS
- Linux containers, LXC, Docker
- Veeam Backup and Replication
- Aruba and Ubiquity Unifi network devices
- Azure DevOps, CI/CD tooling, GitHub
CV’s AND covering letters need to outline:
- Demonstrated ability to manage all areas of IT and systems.
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to learn.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Demonstrated ability to identify and manage risks.
Join Our Team
We’re a fast paced, high growth company with a very important mission: to create autonomous field robotics packages that make our clients operations around the globe safer, more efficient, and sustainable.
Our amazing team is a huge part of bringing this mission to reality.
We’re headquartered in sunny Brisbane, Queensland next to our R&D workshop and adjacent to our testing facilities. We offer travel opportunities to our clients' global projects throughout Australia, South America, South Africa and more.
We put people first and offer competitive benefits to support our talented team.
Interested in joining our team?
Upload your CV
Universal Field Robots is always looking for enthusiastic engineers, software developers and business professionals to join our innovative and agile team. If there are no current vacancies listed, please contact us via the form below.
Test Site
In a once quiet spot near the port of Brisbane, our testing facility is a hotbed of robotics activity and autonomous movement.
Find our test site at: 140 Cullen Ave W, Hamilton, QLD 4007, Australia.