Senior Robotics Manipulation Engineer

Blackhornvc; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Dexterity seeks a Senior Robotics Manipulation Engineer to advance manipulation, control, simulation and learning using data-driven robot controls. You will stay current with reinforcement learning, motion planning and controls to strengthen Dexterity’s physical AI foundations.

You’ll work with sensor data, fusion and state estimation to inform planning and execution, collaborating with data, simulation, and robot operations teams to collect training data and build robust software.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or related discipline.
• 5+ years of relevant industry or research experience.
• Strong Python programming skills and proficiency in C++ on Linux.
• Experience with AI (imitation learning, RL, DL, LLMs) and distributed ML tooling.

Responsibilities

• Train models for robotic manipulation, force control, servoing, etc.
• Convert heuristics-based control to learned models.
• Develop the right state-space representation for our robotics systems.
• Collaborate with roboticists, ML engineers, mechanical engineers, and product managers to find optimal system solutions.
• Implement, test, and maintain high quality software.
• Lead efforts to improve the rigor and performance of models within Dexterity.

Skills

Python

C++

Linux

Reinforcement Learning

Imitation Learning

Deep Learning

LLMs

Distributed ML

Task & Motion Planning

Simulation

Startup experience

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or related discipline

Tools

Git

Docker

Kubernetes

CI pipelines

Job description

As a Senior Robotics Manipulation Engineer, you will be working on a myriad of challenges related to manipulation, control, simulation and learning. You will bring a data‑driven approach to learned robot controls. You will also stay abreast of the latest progress in reinforcement learning, motion planning and controls, and other related fields in order to further develop Dexterity’s technology foundations in physical AI.

Dexterity’s robotic solutions integrate data from a multitude of sensors, including RGB cameras, depth sensors, force‑torque sensors, encoders, system telemetry and human input. To better inform the planning and execution system, you may work on sensor fusion and state estimation techniques to leverage this multimodal sensory data.

You will work closely with the data platform, simulation, and robot operations teams to collect training data to improve your models.

In addition to core manipulation and controls, you will be responsible for building high‑quality, maintainable, and performant software. Ideally, you will possess strong software system and interface design skills.

Day to Day Activities:

• Train models for robotic manipulation, force control, servoing, etc.
• Convert heuristics‑based control to learned models.
• Develop the right state‑space representation for our robotics systems.
• Collaborate with roboticists, machine learning engineers, mechanical engineers, and product managers to find optimal system solutions.
• Implement, test, and maintain high quality software.
• Lead efforts to improve the rigor and performance of models within Dexterity.

Required Skills:

• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of relevant industry or research experience.
• Strong Python programming skills.
• Knowledge of modern C++ and Linux.
• Experience with multiple of the following:
• Artificial Intelligence (imitation learning, reinforcement learning, deep learning, LLMs)
• Distributed ML training platforms (Ray or other)
• Task and motion planning
• Simulation

Nice to haves:

• Experience with Git and modern CI pipelines.
• Experience with Docker and Kubernetes.
• Previous startup experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer We are an equal‑opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Compensation

170000 - 225000 USD a year

Our total rewards philosophy is designed to recognize contributions toward meaningful innovation. Base pay is one component of a broader compensation package that may include equity grants, benefits, and other incentives, depending on role and eligibility.

For this position, the expected base salary range is $170,000 to $225,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on skills, experience, education, and market factors, and may vary accordingly.

Final compensation decisions are made individually and take a number of factors into consideration. Eligible employees may be considered for equity awards as part of their overall compensation. Access to benefits and wellness resources is provided in accordance with company policies and may vary based on role and location.