Robotic Algorithm Engineer

SERES; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SF Motors, INC. (dba SERES) is developing a humanoid robot platform with high-bandwidth actuators and advanced control. The Robotics Algorithm Engineer – Humanoid Locomotion role spans simulation, learning-based control, state estimation, and real-robot deployment.

You will implement RL locomotion policies, design training pipelines, and collaborate with firmware, motor control, and hardware teams to push robustness in indoor service and industrial settings.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in robotics, control, or locomotion-related roles.
• Strong C++ and Python programming skills.
• Experience applying reinforcement learning to robotics control problems.
• Experience deploying algorithms on real robots (not simulation-only).
• Solid understanding of rigid body dynamics and feedback control.
• Familiarity with state estimation for legged robots.
• Experience working in Linux environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deploy RL-based locomotion policies for humanoid robots.
• Design training pipelines including domain randomization and sim-to-real transfer.
• Improve policy robustness for indoor service and industrial use cases.
• Analyze and debug failure modes from both simulation and real-world testing.
• Work on whole-body control frameworks integrating learned policies.
• Understand and leverage robot dynamics models for stability and contact reasoning.
• Contribute to state estimation using IMU, joint encoders, and contact sensing.
• Build and maintain locomotion simulation environments (Mujoco / Isaac).
• Design training environments and reward shaping strategies.
• Analyze the simulation-real gap and iterate on mitigation strategies.
• Deploy policies to hardware with torque-controlled, high-bandwidth actuators.
• Perform real-robot tuning, debugging, and performance optimization.
• Work closely with firmware, motor control, and hardware teams.

Skills

C++

Python

Reinforcement learning

Linux

State estimation

Rigid body dynamics

Tools

Mujoco

Isaac Gym

ROS2

Pinocchio

CasADi

Job description

About SF MOTORS, INC. (dba SERES)

SF Motors is building the next generation of intelligent robotic systems that combine advanced mobility, autonomy, and human-like adaptability. Our mission is to revolutionize how machines move, perceive, and interact in complex environments by integrating control engineering, artificial intelligence, and machine learning at every level of design.

Job Title:

Robotics Algorithm Engineer – Humanoid Locomotion

About the Role

We are building a next-generation humanoid robot platform with high-bandwidth torque-controlled joints and full-body actuation. Our short- to mid-term goal is to achieve robust and reliable locomotion in indoor service and industrial environments.

As a Robotics Algorithm Engineer focused on Locomotion, you will work across simulation, learning-based control, state estimation, and real-robot deployment. This is a highly hands-on role requiring both strong implementation skills and the ability to debug complex real-world robotic behaviors.

We are looking for engineers who not only implement algorithms, but also develop their own technical insights and adapt quickly in a rapidly evolving robotics landscape.

Responsibilities

Locomotion & Learning-Based Control

• Develop and deploy RL-based locomotion policies for humanoid robots
• Design training pipelines including domain randomization and sim-to-real transfer
• Improve policy robustness for indoor service and industrial use cases
• Analyze and debug failure modes from both simulation and real-world testing

Full-Body Control & Modeling

• Work on whole-body control frameworks integrating learned policies
• Understand and leverage robot dynamics models for stability and contact reasoning
• Contribute to state estimation using IMU, joint encoders, and contact sensing

Simulation & Tooling

• Build and maintain locomotion simulation environments (Mujoco / Isaac)
• Design training environments and reward shaping strategies
• Analyze the simulation-real gap and iterate on mitigation strategies

Real Robot Deployment

• Deploy policies to hardware with torque-controlled, high-bandwidth actuators
• Perform real-robot tuning, debugging, and performance optimization
• Work closely with firmware, motor control, and hardware teams

Qualifications

Must Have

• 3+ years of experience in robotics, control, or locomotion-related roles
• Strong C++ and Python programming skills
• Experience applying reinforcement learning to robotics control problems
• Experience deploying algorithms on real robots (not simulation-only)
• Solid understanding of rigid body dynamics and feedback control
• Familiarity with state estimation for legged robots
• Experience working in Linux environments

Nice to Have

• Experience with humanoid or legged robots
• Whole-Body Control or MPC exposure
• Mujoco / Isaac Gym / Isaac Sim experience
• Experience addressing sim-to-real transfer challenges
• Familiarity with Pinocchio, CasADi, or similar tools
• CUDA or large-scale RL training experience
• ROS2 experience

Work Mode

• On-site required
• Up to 10% of travel

Why Join Us

• Work on full-body locomotion for humanoid robots
• Solve real-world robustness problems, not toy simulations
• Collaborate closely with hardware and actuator teams
• Contribute to the 0→1 humanoid platform development
• High ownership, fast iteration, engineering-driven culture

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and verification of employment authorization will be required at the time of hire.

SERES is an equal opportunity employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status.