Research Scientist - Reinforcement Learning, Robotics

The Robot Age; Sunnyvale (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition is seeking a research scientist focused on reinforcement learning for robotics. This role sits in the AI research group, tackling physical AI for autonomous systems and robotic generalists.

You will develop RL methods, design robust experiments, and collaborate with engineers to turn research into reusable AI infrastructure, working closely with the robotics and autonomy teams in an in-office setting.

Qualifications

• Background in reinforcement learning, robotics, or embodied AI.
• Ability to frame, run, and evaluate technical research programs.
• Strong publication, implementation, or applied research record.
• Comfort working closely with engineering teams in an in-office environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop reinforcement-learning methods for robotic systems.
• Design experiments that measure embodied behavior and generalization.
• Collaborate with research engineers on simulation, data, and evaluation workflows.
• Help turn robotics research into reusable physical AI infrastructure.

Skills

Reinforcement learning

Robotics

Embodied AI

Research leadership

Education

PhD in AI/Robotics

Tools

Simulation frameworks

ML frameworks (PyTorch/TensorFlow)

Job description

What the role actually is

Applied Intuition is hiring a research scientist focused on reinforcement learning for robotics. The role is part of its AI research group, which is working on physical AI for autonomous driving and robotic generalist systems.

This is not a UX role, but it belongs on the research side of the board because reinforcement learning affects the behavior layer people ultimately have to understand, trust, and work around.

What you would work on

• Develop reinforcement-learning methods for robotic systems
• Design experiments that measure embodied behavior and generalization
• Collaborate with research engineers on simulation, data, and evaluation workflows
• Help turn robotics research into reusable physical AI infrastructure

What they are asking for

• Research background in reinforcement learning, robotics, or embodied AI
• Ability to frame, run, and evaluate technical research programs
• Strong publication, implementation, or applied research record
• Comfort working closely with engineering teams in an in-office environment

Why this one is worth a look

Robotics needs learning methods that hold up outside narrow demos. This role is a signal that Applied is investing in the policy-learning layer behind robotic generalists, while staying close to the infrastructure used by autonomy teams.