Applied Scientist II

About the role

We are seeking a talented Applied Scientist to join our advanced robotics team, focusing on developing and applying cutting-edge simulation methodologies for advanced robotics systems. This role centers on research and development of physics-based simulation techniques, sim-to-real transfer methods, and machine learning approaches that enable rapid development, testing, and validation of robotic systems operating in complex, real-world environments.

Responsibilities

• Advance physics-based simulation fidelity for contact-rich manipulation and locomotion
• Design and build high-performance simulation tools integrated into a robotics design stack
• Translate research ideas into robust, verifiable data
• Develop methods to quantify and reduce simulation-to-reality gaps across design, safety, and control
• Arcitect scalable simulation solutions for rigid and deformable body dynamics
• Build simulation pipelines optimized for a digital twin level of fidelity
• Establish frameworks for continuous simulation improvement using real-world hardware
• Collaborate with engineering, science, and safety teams on simulation requirements and validation

Requirements

Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining, a PhD in computer science, computer engineering, or related field
2+ years of science, technology, engineering or related field experience
Deep expertise in physics-based simulation, including rigid and deformable dynamics, contact mechanics, computational geometry, and numerical methods
Strong programming skills in C++ and Python, with an emphasis on maintainable, performance-critical code
Experience designing and optimizing physics-based simulation systems for high-performance and large-scale computing environments

Qualifications

• Experience with reinforcement learning and policy training in simulation
• Familiarity with differentiable physics, learned simulation models, or neural physics engines
• Background in contact-rich manipulation or legged locomotion simulation
• Expertise in robotics model formats and pipelines (e.g., URDF, SDF, USD)
• Experience with GPU-accelerated computing and algorithms
• Experience deploying simulation-trained policies on real robotic systems
• Demonstrated research leadership, from project conception through publication and deployment

Skills

Expertise in physics-based simulation, including rigid and deformable dynamics, contact mechanics, computational geometry, and numerical methods
Strong programming skills in C++ and Python, with an emphasis on maintainable, performance-critical code
Experience designing and optimizing physics-based simulation systems for high-performance and large-scale computing environments

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits including health insurance, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave