Applied Scientist Ii, Whole Body Control

Amazon Amazon · Big Tech · N.reading, MA · Research Science

This role focuses on developing advanced robotics systems that integrate AI, control systems, and mechanical design for automation. The scientist will design and implement whole-body control methods for balance, locomotion, and dexterous manipulation, utilizing state-of-the-art learned and model-based control methods, including imitation learning and reinforcement learning. The goal is to create robust, safe, real-time controllers for robots operating in dynamic environments and alongside humans.

What you'd actually do

  1. Design and implement whole body control methods for balance, locomotion, and dexterous manipulation
  2. Utilize state-of-the-art in methods in learned and model-based control
  3. Create robust and safe behaviors for different terrains and tasks
  4. Implement real-time controllers with stability guarantees
  5. Collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary teams to co-design hardware and algorithms for loco-manipulation

Skills

Required

  • PhD, or Master's degree and 2+ years of applied research experience
  • Experience with imitation learning and reinforcement learning for whole-body control
  • Experience with methods such as hierarchical quadratic programming and model-predictive control
  • Experience with simulation environments such as IsaacLab, Mujoco, Drake, etc.
  • Experience with developing and deploying code for real-time controllers
  • Experience in state estimation from multiple sensor modalities

Nice to have

  • Experience in Java, C++, Python, or a related language
  • Experience working effectively across cross-functional teams and partnering well with people at all levels within an organization
  • PhD in Robotics, with a focus on whole-body control
  • Experience with low-level joint torque/impedance control
  • Experience with teleoperation systems
  • Experience with robotics frameworks for fast prototyping (Matlab, ROS, etc.)

What the JD emphasized

  • whole body control
  • real-time controllers

Other signals

  • advanced robotics systems
  • cutting-edge AI
  • deep learning
  • large language models
  • intelligent robotics systems