Simulation, Sim to Real - Internship Program

Lever, Inc.; Irvine, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

FieldAI in Irvine, California is seeking a 12-week Simulation internship to bridge real-world robot deployments with autonomy development. You will join a dedicated simulation team to build and improve tools, validate sensor fidelity, and contribute to real-to-sim workflows.

You will work with mentors to define a focused project, develop in Python and/or C++, and document results with a final demo and handoff.

Qualifications

• Pursuing BS/MS/PhD in CS, Robotics, EE, ME or related field.
• Proficient in Python and/or C++.
• Foundational knowledge in robotics, simulation, graphics, physics, or software engineering.
• Experience with Git and Linux.
• Interest in sensing, timing, physics and robot behavior.
• Collaborative mindset and willingness to learn.
• Available for a 12-week internship.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver a focused simulation project over 12 weeks.
• Develop or improve robotics simulation tools using Python and/or C++.
• Evaluate and improve simulation fidelity in sensor modeling, timing, robot behavior, or environment representation.
• Build tools for scenario execution, log replay, regression testing, metrics, or visualization.
• Use field logs, reconstructed environments, or real-world failure cases to create reproducible simulation scenarios.
• Collaborate with simulation and autonomy engineers to compare simulated vs real robot behavior.
• Document approach and share results through final demo and handoff.

Skills

Python

C++

Git

Linux

Collaboration

Curiosity

Willingness to learn

Education

BS/MS/PhD in CS/Robotics/EE/ME or related

Tools

ROS2

Gazebo

MuJoCo

Unity

Unreal

URDF

USD

Meshes

Point clouds

Job description

FieldAI's Irvine team is where embodied AI meets real robots, real sensors, and real field deployments. Based in the heart of Southern California's robotics ecosystem, we build risk-aware, reliable, field-ready AI systems that solve the hardest problems in robotics and unlock the full potential of embodied intelligence. If you want your work to ship, get tested on hardware, and improve through real deployments, Irvine is the place. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-only architectures, combining rigorous engineering with learning systems proven in globally deployed solutions that deliver results today and get better every time our robots run in the field.

About the Role

Join Field AI's Simulation team for a 12-week internship building tools that connect real-world robot deployments with autonomy development. You'll work alongside simulation and autonomy engineers on a scoped project in simulation tooling, sensor fidelity, real-to-sim workflows, or autonomy evaluation, with opportunities to validate your work against real robot data.

What You'll Get To Do

• Work with a mentor to define and deliver a focused simulation project over 12 weeks.
• Develop or improve robotics simulation tools using Python and/or C++.
• Help evaluate and improve simulation fidelity in an area such as sensor modeling, timing, robot behavior, or environment representation.
• Build tools for scenario execution, log replay, regression testing, metrics, or visualization.
• Use field logs, reconstructed environments, or real-world failure cases to create reproducible simulation scenarios.
• Collaborate with simulation and autonomy engineers to investigate differences between simulated and real robot behavior.
• Document your approach and share your results through a final demo and technical handoff.

Your project will focus on a subset of these areas, based on your interests, experience, and team priorities.

What You Have

• Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Programming experience in Python and/or C++ through coursework, research, internships, or personal projects.
• Foundational knowledge in one or more areas such as robotics, simulation, computer graphics, physics, or software engineering.
• Experience building and debugging software, including familiarity with Git and Linux.
• Interest in understanding how sensing, timing, physics and environments affect robot behavior.
• A collaborative mindset, curiosity, and willingness to learn unfamiliar tools.
• Availability for a 12-week internship.

What Will Set You Apart

• Hands-on experience with Isaac Sim, Gazebo, MuJoCo, Unity, Unreal, or another simulation platform.
• Familiarity with ROS2, including sensor messages, coordinate transforms, or recorded robot data.
• Experience working with robot or environment assets such as URDF, USD, meshes, or point clouds.
• Projects involving sensor simulation, physics modeling, 3D reconstruction, or procedural environment generation.
• Experience with automated testing, CI workflows, batch simulation, or data analysis and visualization.
• Experience using real robot data to evaluate simulation accuracy or autonomy performance.
• Participation in robotics research, student teams, competitions, or open-source projects.

$30 - $40 an hour

Our salary range is generous and we consider each individual's background and experience when determining final compensation. Base pay may vary based on role scope, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and the Irvine, California market.

Why Join FieldAI in Irvine?

In Irvine, you will work where the robots are. Our local team builds and tests systems on real hardware with real sensors, then ships them to operate in unstructured, previously unknown environments around the world. We are solving one of robotics' hardest challenges: reliable deployment outside the lab. Our Field Foundational Models™ raise the bar for perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, with an emphasis on explainability and safety for real-world use.

You will collaborate with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. We bring deep experience from organizations such as DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, along with a track record of field deployments and strong performance in DARPA challenge segments.

Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution

We are looking for builders who want their work to leave the whiteboard and show up on robots. If you enjoy tackling tough, uncharted questions and working across disciplines, you will find your people here. Our teams span AI, software, robotics engineering, product, field deployment, and technical communication, all focused on shipping systems that perform in the real world.

Our headquarters is in Irvine, and we partner closely with teams there as well as colleagues across the US and around the world. Join us in Southern California and help define what dependable, field-ready autonomy looks like.

We value diverse perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We evaluate candidates and employees based on merit, qualifications, and performance, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.