Principal Physical AI Engineer, Multi-Robot & Swarm Systems (Ref 20269)

ST Engineering; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Singapore is looking for a Principal Physical AI Engineer to develop multi-robot collaboration solutions. The candidate will work on advanced robotics planning and coordination, requiring strong experience in decentralized systems and programming in Python or C++. Master's or PhD in a relevant field is essential. This role offers an opportunity to tackle real-world engineering challenges and contribute to cutting-edge robotics projects.

Benefits

Flexible engineering culture

Opportunity for hands-on robotics testing

Engagement with both research and practical challenges

Qualifications

• Experience building multi-robot or swarm systems.
• Deep knowledge of decentralised interaction protocols and swarm algorithms.
• Familiarity with robotics fundamentals: Distributed Data Fusion, SLAM, control loops.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain core multi-robot collaboration modules.
• Integrate robotics hardware drivers, sensors, and simulation platforms.
• Design and optimize real-time data pipelines.

Skills

Multi-Robot System Architecture

Decentralised interaction protocols

Swarm algorithms

Python programming

C++ programming

Robotics fundamentals

Debugging

Education

Masters/PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Mechatronics, or Electrical Engineering

Tools

ROS2

Gazebo

Webots

Job description

We are looking for a Principal Physical AI Engineer with strong foundations in Multi-Robot System (MRS) and Physical AI to help build next-generation MRS/Swarm collaboration solutions. You will work on real-time distributed/decentralised robotic planning, coordination, perception, communication, and infrastructure that enables autonomous teams of robots to operate collectively in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain core multi-robot collaboration modules (multi-robot task allocation, distributed data fusion, swarm behaviours, inter-robot comms management etc.).

• Integrate robotics hardware drivers, sensors, and simulation platforms (Gazebo/Ignition, Webots, Isaac Sim, etc.).

• Design and optimize real-time data pipelines for robot-to-robot and robot-to-cloud messaging.

• Contribute to ROS2 nodes, services, actions, and build robust MRS autonomy stacks.

• Develop system tooling for visualization, debugging, logging, and telemetry.

• Prototype in simulation and validate on physical robotic platforms.

• Collaborate with cross-functional robotics engineers (controls, perception, systems, AI/planning).

• Formulate the conceptual and detailed technical solution for the development of applications to meet customer requirements.

• Provide recommendations on relevant emerging technology in MRS/Swarm to senior management.

• Identifying and leading strategic technical capability development for MRS/Swarm.

• Collaborate on research and development projects to explore new capabilities and applications for MRS/Swarm technology.

Minimum Requirements

• Masters/PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

• Experience building multi-robot or swarm systems.

• Extensive knowledge Multi-Robot System Architecture like Distributed Autonomous Systems, Multi Agent System and Swarm etc.

• Deep knowledge of decentralised interaction protocols and swarm algorithms like Contract Net Protocol (CNP), Petri nets, Boids algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimisation etc.

• Familiarity with robotics fundamentals: Distributed Data Fusion, SLAM, localization, motion planning, control loops.

Preferred Requirements

• Strong programming skills in Python and/or C++.

• Experienced with Generative AI and/or Agentic AI frameworks.

• Experienced with ROS2, microservices, or real-time systems.

• Understanding of distributed systems or networking (pub/sub, DDS, gRPC, etc.).

• Familiarity with simulation tooling (Gazebo, Isaac Sim, Webots, Unity robotics etc).

Additional Skills

• Comfortable with rapid prototyping and research-to-production workflows.

• Strong debugging and system-thinking mindset.

• Able to work independently and in a collaborative applied research environment.

• Curious, open to experimentation, and willing to push boundaries in autonomy.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge multi-agent/swarm robotics systems with real-world deployment.

• Exposure to both research-driven and practical engineering challenges.

• Hands-on robotics testing, both simulation and physical platforms.

• Flexible and innovation-friendly engineering culture.