Boston Dynamics

Principal AI/ML Controls Engineer

Boston Dynamics$130K — $180K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • MS with 3 years of industry experience or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related field
  • Proven experience developing in large, collaborative codebases (Python and C++)
  • Deep expertise in Imitation Learning, Unsupervised Learning, or Reinforcement Learning at scale
  • Experience designing data collection strategies and managing large-scale proprietary datasets
  • Experience developing simulations for AI/ML workflows and model evaluations
  • Demonstrated ability to transition R&D prototypes into deployable technologies
  • Technical leadership experience with strong communication and collaboration skills

Responsibilities

  • Develop learning-based solutions for robotic manipulation using reinforcement and imitation learning
  • Utilize multimodal inputs and modern ML architectures for improved decision-making
  • Collaborate with infrastructure engineers for AI/ML system development and deployment
  • Maintain simulation systems for data generation and performance evaluation
  • Integrate learned components with perception and planning in the autonomy stack
  • Transition R&D prototypes to robust, production systems in the field
  • Enhance infrastructure and tools for scalable AI experimentation and continuous learning

Benefits

  • Opportunity to shape the future of intelligent robotics
  • Work with cutting-edge AI and data-driven methods
  • Collaborative and innovative environment at a leading robotics company
  • Hands-on experience with real-world applications and technology deployment
  • Potential for professional growth in an advanced technical landscape
Full Job Description
We are seeking a highly motivated Principal Control Engineer to advance the state of the art in robotics behavior learning and manipulation for Boston Dynamics' Stretch robot operating in complex warehouse environments. In this role, you will have the chance to shape the next generation of intelligent manipulation by applying modern AI and data-driven methods to improve robotic behavior planning and control.

In this role, you will work across research and production boundaries-developing learning-based approaches that can both demonstrate new capabilities and be deployed reliably in real-world operations.

Responsibilities:
  • Develop and evaluate learning-based solutions for robotic manipulation and behavior planning using techniques such as reinforcement learning and imitation learning.
  • Leverage multimodal inputs (vision, depth, language, proprioception) and modern ML architectures to improve decision making.
  • Collaborate closely with infrastructure engineers to build and iterate on AI/ML development systems, spanning data collection, model training, validation, and deployment on real robots.
  • Develop and maintain simulation systems that support large-scale data generation, model training, and performance evaluation for learning-based policies.
  • Collaborate with perception, planning, and control teams to integrate learned components into the broader autonomy stack.
  • Transition promising R&D prototypes into robust, production-quality systems deployed in the field.
  • Contribute to the infrastructure and tools enabling scalable AI experimentation, as well as data and model management for continuous learning and deployment.


We are looking for:
  • MS with 3 years of industry experience or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related field
  • Proven experience developing in large, collaborative codebases (Python and C++).
  • Deep expertise and hands-on experience in one or more of the following areas:
    • Imitation Learning, Unsupervised Learning, or Reinforcement Learning at scale.
    • Designing data collection strategies, curating large-scale proprietary datasets, and developing data flywheels to drive continuous model improvement.
    • Learned visual representations for decision making and manipulation.
    • Multimodal learning, integrating vision, language, and robot states through specialized encoders.
  • Experience developing and using simulations to support AI/ML workflows, including data generation and model evaluation.
  • Demonstrated ability to bridge R&D and product development, delivering deployable technologies.
  • Experience in technical leadership on a cross-displine team, excellent communication and collaboration skills.


Bonus Points:
  • Experience with physics simulation such as MuJoCo, IsaacSim.
  • Background in robotic manipulation or warehouse automation.
  • Familiarity with on-robot perception and control integration for complex tasks.
  • Familiarity with ML deployment on edge or embedded systems.

About Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics is an American engineering and robotics design company founded in 1992 as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The company is best known for the development of BigDog, a quadruped robot designed for the U.S. military. Boston Dynamics has also developed a number of other robots, including Spot, a four-legged robot designed for indoor and outdoor operation, and Atlas, a humanoid robot designed for a variety of search and rescue tasks. In 2013, the company was acquired by Google X, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. In 2020, the company was acquired by Hyundai Motor Group. Boston Dynamics is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Learn more about Boston Dynamics
Size
300 employees
Industry
Founded
1992

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