Research Engineer, Simulation & World Models

Kindredventures; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Mecka AI in San Francisco seeks a hands-on research engineer to build robot simulation environments and connect them with real-world data across Mecka Labs.

You will work with MuJoCo, Isaac Sim and related tools to ensure credible, scalable simulations that support learning and planning for embodied AI systems.

Qualifications

• Deep experience building and debugging physics-based simulation (MuJoCo, Isaac Sim or similar).
• Strong reinforcement learning and embodied AI fundamentals.
• Experience with learned dynamics or latent world models.
• Strong Python and C++ systems skills; scalable, reproducible tools.
• Ability to design controlled experiments and trace failures to models or data.

Responsibilities

• Build simulation environments: model robots, sensors, objects, contacts, materials and dynamics grounded in real behavior.
• Scale training workloads: pipelines for parallel rollouts, synthetic data, policy training and evaluation.
• Improve physical fidelity: calibrate against data and fix dynamics/sensing mismatches.
• Drive sim-to-real: use system identification and domain randomization for transfer.
• Develop world models: learned dynamics or latent models integrated with physics-based systems.
• Build with the team: turn prototypes into reusable simulation assets and training infrastructure.

Skills

Simulation & physics

Robotics learning

World models

Research engineering

Experimental judgment

Tools

MuJoCo

Isaac Sim

Python

C++

Job description

About Mecka AI

Mecka AI is building the data infrastructure layer for robotics and embodied AI.
We design and operate global systems for data capture, data labeling, and hardware-enabled workflows used by leading AI labs and robotics companies to train and validate humanoid and embodied AI systems.
We work closely with frontier robotics teams to bridge real-world data, simulation, learning-based systems, and deployed hardware.

The Role

Build simulation systems that train and evaluate robots and embodied agents. Model physical interactions, create scalable training worlds and connect simulation with real-world data across Mecka Labs.

This is a hands‑on research engineering role for someone exceptional in simulation, physics and learning. You'll work with MuJoCo, Isaac Sim and related tools, close sim‑to‑real gaps, and build learned or hybrid world models for prediction, planning and control. You own whether the simulated world behaves credibly and runs at scale; partner roles turn it into trainable tasks and reliable evaluations.

What you will be doing:

• Build simulation environments: Model robots, sensors, objects, contacts, materials and dynamics, with scenarios grounded in real behavior.

• Scale training workloads: Build reliable pipelines for parallel rollouts, synthetic data, policy training and evaluation.

• Improve physical fidelity: Calibrate against measured data, find mismatches in dynamics or sensing and make targeted improvements.

• Drive sim‑to‑real: Use system identification, domain randomization and controlled experiments to improve transfer.

• Develop world models: Build learned dynamics or latent models, combine them with physics‑based systems and test their value for prediction, planning and control.

• Build with the team: Turn prototypes into reusable simulation assets, training infrastructure and documented methods with researchers and engineers.

What you bring:

• Simulation and physics: Deep experience building and debugging physics‑based simulation with MuJoCo, Isaac Sim or comparable platforms.

• Robotics learning: Strong reinforcement learning and embodied AI fundamentals, including observations, actions, rewards and policy evaluation.

• World models: Experience with learned dynamics, latent world models or hybrid physics‑learning systems.

• Research engineering: Strong Python and C++ systems skills; you build scalable, reproducible tools other researchers can extend.

• Experimental judgment: Design controlled experiments, measure sim‑to‑real gaps and trace failures to models, data, policies or infrastructure.

Even better if you have:

• Simulation or training infrastructure used at scale by a robotics or embodied AI research team.

• Demonstrated sim‑to‑real transfer in manipulation, locomotion, navigation or another physical domain.

• Published or open‑source work in world models, differentiable simulation, GPU‑accelerated simulation or model‑based reinforcement learning.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive candidate experience. Should you require any accommodation whatsoever during the interview process, please inform us without any hesitation. Mecka is dedicated to ensuring equal treatment and opportunity in all phases of recruitment, selection, and employment, in compliance with employment law. We do not discriminate based on gender, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other protected category. Mecka is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, fostering a culture of inclusivity and maintaining a work environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

Mecka uses artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly to support administrative and efficiency‑focused aspects of our recruitment process. This includes activities such as drafting job descriptions, generating interview questions, note‑taking and recordings, and supporting sourcing and scheduling workflows. All candidate evaluations, interviews, and hiring decisions are made by members of the Mecka team. While AI tools may assist with screening and assessment, they do not replace human judgment in selection decisions. Our use of AI is intended to streamline routine tasks, improve consistency, and enhance the overall candidate experience. We are committed to upholding principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability in all hiring activities. Mecka regularly reviews its recruitment practices to mitigate bias and to ensure alignment with applicable laws and evolving best practices.