Research Scientist - College of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits eligible

Tuition benefits

Free bus pass

Work-life balance resources

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University’s Mechanical Engineering Department seeks a Research Scientist to lead the Safe AI Lab's program on scenario generation, simulation, and digital twins for embodied AI. You will build industry-grade digital twins, design safety-focused simulations, and publish results at top venues.

You will guide student researchers, coordinate projects, and contribute to papers and documentation while advancing independent goals within the lab.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• 5–8 years of experience.
• Experience with robot simulation (Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, or game engines), 3D scene and digital-twin construction, machine learning systems, and research project leadership strongly preferred.
• A combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Build digital twins of industrial work cells and automated assembly processes from CAD, point clouds, and video.
• Develop scenario generation pipelines turning incident reports, safety standards, and recorded human motion into simulation scenarios.
• Run simulation-based evaluation of robot policies and validate sim-to-real transfer on lab robot platforms.
• Propose and lead independent research goals and coordinate student researchers; co-write papers and reports; present at conferences.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Robot simulation

3D scene

Digital twin

Machine learning

Research leadership

Education

Master’s degree preferred.

Tools

Isaac Sim

MuJoCo

Game engines

Job description

Pittsburgh, PA

Full time

2025279

Carnegie Mellon University is a private, global research university that stands among the world’s most renowned education institutions. With ground-breaking brain science, path-breaking performances, creative start-ups, big data, big ambitions, hands‑on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn’t imagine the future, we invent it. If you’re passionate about joining a community that challenges the curious to deliver work that matters, your journey starts here!

Innovation. Interdisciplinary collaboration. Complex problem solving. In Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, faculty members, researchers, and students are revolutionizing focus areas in advanced manufacturing, bioengineering, computational engineering, energy and the environment, product design, and robotics. In addition, they are using their expertise in interdisciplinary research centers across the university.

Carnegie Mellon University’s department of Mechanical Engineering is searching for a Research Scientist to join their team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in an interesting and challenging work environment. You will contribute to the department by leading the Safe AI Lab's research program on scenario generation, simulation, and digital twins for embodied AI. The role builds digital twins of industrial work cells and assembly processes, generates safety-critical and long-tail scenarios from incident data, standards, and procedural variation, and runs simulation-based evaluation of robot policies in physics simulators (NVIDIA Isaac Sim, MuJoCo) to produce quantitative safety evidence and sim-to-real validation. The position proposes and leads independent research goals within the scope of the lab's projects, coordinates student team members, and publishes at leading venues.

Your core responsibilities will include:

• Build digital twins of industrial work cells and automated assembly processes from CAD, point clouds, and video, and maintain simulation-ready asset and layout libraries with controlled variation.

• Develop scenario generation pipelines that turn incident reports, safety standards, and recorded human motion into simulation scenarios, including procedural generation of long-tail and safety-critical cases.

• Run simulation-based evaluation of robot policies (classical, RL, and VLA/VLM controllers): define safety metrics (separation distance, contact speed and force, near-misses), apply importance sampling to find rare failures, and validate sim-to-real transfer on lab robot platforms.

• Propose and lead independent research goals within the scope of the lab's projects; coordinate and direct the work of student researchers; co-write papers, documentation, and progress reports; present at national and international conferences.

• Other duties as assigned.

Flexibility, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University. Inclusion, collaboration and cultural sensitivity are valued competencies at CMU. Therefore, we are in search of a team member who is able to effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree preferred.

• 5-8 years of experience.

• Experience with robot simulation (Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, or game engines), 3D scene and digital-twin construction, machine learning systems, and research project leadership strongly preferred.

• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.

Requirements:

• Successful background check.

Benefits

• Benefits eligible (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/eligibility/index.html) employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/health-welfare/index.html)
• as well as a generous retirement savings program (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/retirement-savings/index.html) with employer contributions.
• Unlock your potential with tuition benefits (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/tuition/index.html) , take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/time-away/pto.html) and observed holidays (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/time-away/holidays.html) , and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.
• Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team (https://cmu.edu/hr/work-life/support/family-child-care-resources/) to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access (https://athletics.cmu.edu/recreation/facilities)
• For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page (https://www.cmu.edu/hr/benefits/index.html).

Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?!

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Engineering, Research and Project Scientists

Position Type

Staff – Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information:

• Please visit Why Carnegie Mellon (http://www.cmu.edu/jobs/why-cmu/index.html) to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.

• Click here (https://www.cmu.edu/jobs/benefits-at-a-glance/) to view a listing of employee benefits

• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.

• Statement of Assurance (https://www.cmu.edu/policies/administrative-and-governance/statement-of-assurance.html)

Interested in a career with Carnegie Mellon University but not finding anything that currently aligns with your interests, background, or experience? Learn how to sign up for Job Alerts (https://www.cmu.edu/jobs/external-applicants.html#job-alerts) through your candidate profile.

If your heart is in your work, come work with us.

We cultivate a vibrant, welcoming environment where everyone is valued and encouraged to contribute and achieve. In addition to competitive benefits and a robust support network, you’ll have access to many tools and resources to sharpen your abilities and professional skills, as well as opportunities to engage and share perspectives with a dynamic and inspiring community of uniquely talented staff, faculty, students, and alumni.

The future is awaiting your expertise and intellect. Come join the architects of what’s next.

Learn more about Student Employment (https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/student-employment/index.html).

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For technical assistance, email HR Services ([e-mail]) or call 412-268-4600.

We are committed to providing an accessible experience throughout our recruitment process. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the application, interview, or hiring process, please contact Equal Opportunity Services by email at [e-mail] or by phone at 412-268-5072.

Prospective Employee Disclosures (https://www.cmu.edu/jobs/disclosures/index.html)