Robotics & Physical AI Subject Matter Expert

Fujitsu Limited; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Fujitsu Limited in Santa Clara, CA seeks a Robotics & Physical AI Subject Matter Expert to drive research adoption and industry engagement in next-generation robotic systems.

The role combines deep technical leadership with hands-on development, collaborating with global teams to translate research into commercial AI-enabled robotics applications.

Qualifications

• PhD required in a robotics/AI related field.
• 3-5 years of industry experience in robotics or AI R&D.
• Strong understanding of perception, planning, control, and ML.
• Experience with Python and ML frameworks.
• Hands-on with robotic software frameworks and simulators.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI-driven robotics research and development.
• Translate academic advances into prototypes and demonstrations.
• Collaborate with international teams to align tech with business goals.
• Engage with industry partners to identify deployment opportunities.

Skills

Robotics

Autonomous systems

Physical AI

Deep learning

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Reinforcement learning

ROS/ROS 2

Simulation tools

Education

Ph.D. in Robotics, AI, CS, EE, ME

Tools

NVIDIA Isaac Sim

Gazebo

MuJoCo

Job description

Job Description: Robotics & Physical AI Subject Matter Expert

Job Location: Santa Clara, California

Location Flexibility: Primary Location Only

Req Id: 13655

Posting Start Date: 10/27/26

At Fujitsu, we are driven by our purpose to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation.

We have been a pioneer in technology and innovation for over 80 years, and we are committed to using our expertise to help businesses and organizations transform for the digital age. We believe that digital transformation is essential to creating a more sustainable future. That's why we are working with our customers to develop solutions that can help them reduce their environmental impact, improve their efficiency, and create a more equitable society.

We are committed to contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals are a blueprint for a better future for all, and we believe that technology can play a vital role in achieving them.

If you share our passion for making a meaningful impact on the world, we invite you to join our global family of 130,000 employees spanning more than 50 countries. We are a diverse workforce, and we offer a wide range of opportunities for you to grow and develop your career.

Together, we can create a more sustainable future for all.

Position: Robotics & Physical AI Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Experience: 3-5 years of relevant industry experience

Education: Ph.D. required
Japanese Language: Preferred

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Robotics & Physical AI Subject Matter Expert to drive research adoption, technology development, and industry engagement in next-generation intelligent robotic systems.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong academic foundation in robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems, complemented by practical industry experience developing and deploying AI-enabled robotic solutions.

This role will focus on advancing Physical AI technologies that enable machines to perceive, reason, learn, and interact intelligently with the physical world. The candidate will work closely with research teams, technology partners, and customers to translate cutting-edge research into commercially relevant applications.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership & Expertise

• Serve as a subject matter expert in robotics, Physical AI, embodied intelligence, and autonomous systems.
• Provide technical leadership in AI-driven perception, planning, reasoning, control, and robotic manipulation.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, including Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models, foundation models for robotics, reinforcement learning, and imitation learning.
• Identify opportunities for applying Physical AI to industrial automation, manufacturing, logistics, and other enterprise applications.

2. Research & Technology Development

• Collaborate with research scientists and engineers to develop advanced robotics and Physical AI solutions.
• Translate academic advances into practical technologies, prototypes, and proof-of-concept demonstrations.
• Support the integration of AI models with robotic hardware, sensors, actuators, and real-time control systems.
• Evaluate simulation environments, digital twins, and sim-to-real transfer techniques for robotic learning and deployment.

3. Industry Engagement & Collaboration

• Engage with enterprise customers and technology partners to understand business requirements and identify opportunities for robotics and Physical AI adoption.
• Serve as a technical advisor in discussions with industry stakeholders and research institutions.
• Collaborate with international research and engineering teams, particularly in Japan, to align technology development with business and research priorities.
• Represent the organization at technical conferences, research forums, and industry events.

4. Technology Strategy & Innovation

• Monitor emerging trends and competitive developments in robotics and Physical AI.
• Contribute to technology roadmaps, research priorities, and strategic initiatives.
• Assess the technical feasibility, scalability, and commercial potential of emerging robotic AI technologies.
• Develop technical presentations, white papers, and demonstrations for internal and external audiences.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• 3-5 years of relevant industry experience in robotics, autonomous systems, Physical AI, or applied AI research and development.
• Strong understanding of robotic perception, motion planning, manipulation, control systems, and machine learning.
• Experience with deep learning, reinforcement learning, or foundation models for robotics.
• Hands-on familiarity with robotic software frameworks and simulation tools, such as ROS/ROS 2, NVIDIA Isaac Sim, Gazebo, or MuJoCo.
• Proficiency in Python and experience with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Demonstrated ability to bridge fundamental research and real-world engineering applications.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and technical presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary and geographically distributed teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Japanese language proficiency, particularly the ability to communicate with technical and research teams in Japan.
• Experience collaborating with Japanese technology companies, universities, or research organizations.
• Knowledge of Vision-Language-Action models, multimodal foundation models, and embodied AI.
• Experience with humanoid robotics, industrial robotics, mobile manipulation, or autonomous mobile robots.
• Familiarity with robotic simulation, synthetic data generation, and sim-to-real learning.
• Published research in leading robotics or AI conferences such as ICRA, IROS, RSS, NeurIPS, or CoRL.
• Experience developing proof-of-concept solutions in collaboration with enterprise customers or industry partners.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will combine deep technical expertise, hands-on industry experience, and strong communication skills. They will be equally comfortable discussing emerging robotics research with leading scientists, engaging engineering teams on implementation challenges, and articulating the business value of Physical AI to customers and senior executives.

An interest in international collaboration, particularly with Japanese research and technology organizations, will be a significant advantage.

Relocation Supported: No Visa Sponsorship Approved: Yes

At Fujitsu, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to our success, and we are committed to creating an environment where all employees can thrive.

We are an equal opportunity employer and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We believe that everyone has something to contribute, and we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone can reach their full potential.

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