Senior Systems Research Engineer – Embodied AI & Robotics

Description

You will join a small, agile team that explores and builds embodied AI applications where state-of-the-art AI/ML meets robotics.

The work is hands-on. You will recommend high-performance architectures, build and integrate embodied AI applications step by step, and show that they are technically feasible, perform well, and are safe.

The goal is to bring embodied AI into reliable, high-quality product development. The team addresses clinical, functional, and safety requirements alongside motion controls, perception, AI/ML, software, and hardware teams.

Responsibilities

• Act as architect, developer, and integrator, turning early concepts into robust prototypes.
• Design and tune software interfaces between subsystems so edge AI, firmware, OS, hardware, and cloud services work together, then oversee deployment and ongoing improvement for high reliability and performance.
• Build robust data pipelines and real-time systems for sensor fusion, perception, and robotic control.
• Optimize AI/ML models for embedded platforms to reach low-latency execution.
• Write maintainable, modular code with thorough testing, and document intellectual property.
• Explore several frameworks before committing to the technology stacks with the greatest impact.
• Lead complex end-to-end embodied intelligence projects, making key architectural decisions and technical trade-offs.
• Define the strategic roadmap for the robotics platform, from foundation models to real-time onboard inference, and contribute to team planning and design reviews.
• Work with the research and product development teams to bring perception, planning, navigation, and multimodal ML models onto edge platforms.
• Balance technical feasibility against schedules and resources, and move the work from broad exploration to deep implementation as the product matures.

Requirements

• A master's degree or higher in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field is required, and advanced degrees are preferred.
• At least 6 years of embedded software experience, or equivalent, including research and innovation settings.
• Proficiency in several languages such as C, C++, Python, and Matlab, and experience building real-time, multi-threaded applications.
• Experience with industrial embedded operating systems such as QNX or Yocto, inter-process communication, hardware interfaces, and CUDA programming.
• Experience with machine learning models and frameworks such as PyTorch and TensorFlow.
• Expertise in AI/ML embedded solutions, including training and fine-tuning foundation models and hardware acceleration.
• Experience in robotics covering motion control, perception, sensor fusion, path planning, and optimizing models for resource-limited platforms.
• Strong problem solving, quick adaptation to new technology, and excellent written and verbal communication.

Conditions

The role is onsite in Sunnyvale, CA.

Travel is up to 10%, including visits to lab and preclinical environments.

Some roles may be subject to U.S. export controls, which can apply to prospective employees who are nationals of countries under embargo or sanctions. Export license processing by the government can take 3 to 6+ months, and a Technology Control Plan typically adds 2 weeks to hiring.

Final offers for export-controlled roles depend on an approved export license and/or an executed Technology Control Plan before the start date. Candidates will be told about any steps required.

The company may require proof of current vaccination against certain diseases, including COVID-19. Requirements vary by role.

Candidates who do not live in, and do not plan to live in, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee will be given preference.

The role may be filled at a different job level than listed, depending on business need and the selected candidate's experience, knowledge, and skills.

Pay is based mainly on the job level the role is filled at and the candidate's qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

The company considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in line with fair chance laws, and is an equal opportunity employer.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Equity.
• Annual bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits.