Research Scientist - Reinforcement Learning, Robotics

Decisive Point; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 423,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Comprehensive health benefits

401k with employer match

Learning and wellness stipends

Paid time off

Job summary

Decisive Point is hiring a Research Scientist in Sunnyvale, California. This role involves conducting research on reinforcement learning for robotics, working with industry-leading tools, and collaborating with top experts in the field.

The ideal candidate will hold an MSc or PhD and have a strong publication record in autonomous systems. The position offers a competitive salary range of $126,000 - $423,000 annually, along with equity and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Strong research record in reinforcement learning and robotics.
• Publications in top-tier conferences or journals.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on RL topics for robotics.
• Collaborate with teams to test and deploy algorithms.
• Publish research in top-tier conferences.

Skills

Reinforcement Learning

Python

Pytorch

Computer Vision

Robotics Systems

Education

MSc or PhD in machine learning or related field

Job description

About Applied Intuition

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in‑office company, and our expectation is that employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments.

About the role and team

We are looking for multiple passionate Research Scientists to join the Research Group at Applied Intuition. The mission of the group is to create cutting‑edge technology enabling next‑generation physical AI, with emphasis on the two most challenging applications reshaping our everyday life: end‑to‑end autonomous driving and robotic generalist. We have a group composed of leading experts from top institutions and companies, recognized for their exceptional academic and industry contributions—including eight Best Paper awards at premier conferences and journals such as CVPR and ICRA. Learn more at appliedintuition.com/research.

Supported by industry‑leading tools and infra, researchers can access millions of miles of data from large fleets, and deploy methods they develop into various autonomous and robotic systems including self‑driving cars/trucks, autonomous mining/construction machines, humanoid robots and dexterous hands. In addition to your research contributions, you will contribute to and learn from best practices in the autonomy and robotics industries within our fast‑paced and customer‑focused culture. Improvements deployed to our system immediately help our customers with their programs and deliver value to our business.

We are open to all years of experience as long as the necessary requirements are met, including those with potential Tech Lead and Manager capacity.

At Applied Intuition, you will:

• Conduct research on reinforcement learning (RL) related topics including large‑scale closed‑loop RL and VLA post‑training with applications to robotics with emphasis on dexterous manipulation

• Diving into fundamental and relevant topics on RL with broader applications

• Work closely with other Research Scientists and interns on research publications for submission to top‑tier conferences

• Collaborate with Research Engineers and engineering teams to test and deploy algorithms to our autonomy and robotics products

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Strong research record in the fields of RL and VLA post‑training for robotics and autonomous systems, with publications in top‑tier conferences or journals in the fields of computer vision, machine learning, and robotics

• MSc or PhD in machine learning and computer vision with autonomy and robotics applications or closely‑related fields

• Passion for next‑generation, scalable autonomy and robotics for real‑world systems

• Strong research skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively on projects

• Technical experience in: Python, Pytorch, computer vision, robotics systems, and distributed machine learning model training

Nice to have:

Hands‑on experience in at least one of the following fields:

• VLA post‑training for autonomy or robotics

• Large‑scale closed‑loop RL in robotic simulation

• Large‑scale RL training infrastructure

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full‑time position is: $126,000 - $423,000 USD annually.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these regulations are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.