Staff Simulation Engineer - Core Simulation Platform
- Location
- Sunnyvale, CA · On-site
- Job type
- Full-time
- Level
- Lead / Staff
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Education
- Master's degree
- Listed
- 19 days ago
Skills & highlights for this role
- C++
- Python
- Robotics fundamentals (kinematics, dynamics, controls, system identification)
- Modern robotic simulator experience (Isaac Lab, MuJoCo, or equivalent)
- Reinforcement Learning and VLA understanding
- CI/CD and automated testing
- Large-scale parallel simulation on cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)
- Distributed computing frameworks (Ray, Kubernetes)
Also useful
- Sim-to-real transfer experience
- Sensor-realistic simulation (camera, LiDAR, depth)
- Humanoid robotics experience
Job Summary
At the core of every robot policy we ship is a simulation platform that has to be fast enough for RL training, accurate enough for controls validation, and stable enough to be the team's daily driver. As Staff Simulation Engineer for Core Simulation Platform, you'll contribute to the architecture and development of that platform alongside senior team members, applying strong C++ and Python skills, robotics fundamentals, and modern simulator experience to keep the platform robust, performant, and parallel.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Contribute to the architecture and development of the core simulation platform - high-performance digital twins that serve as the foundation for policy training, controls validation, and CI/CD integration testing.
- Help build and scale cloud-native simulation pipelines capable of generating millions of experience hours per day, parallelizing physics and rendering for rapid policy iteration.
- Improve sim-to-real transfer through advanced contact models and actuator dynamics that help policies trained in simulation transfer to physical humanoid hardware.
- Develop sensor-realistic environments (camera, LiDAR, depth) that challenge the perception stack with dynamic and diverse worlds.
- Ship platform improvements that visibly reduce iteration time for RL, controls, and perception teams.
- Work with Controls, AI Research, and Perception teams to support their evolving simulation needs as the platform grows.
Skills and Requirements
- Excellent C++ and/or Python programming skills
- Familiar with software development best practices: CI/CD, automated testing, and code quality standards
- Understanding of robotics concepts: kinematics, dynamics, controls, system identification
- Experience with modern robotic simulators (Isaac Lab, MuJoCo, or equivalent)
- Understanding of Reinforcement Learning and VLAs, with research or production experience
- Experience with large-scale training workloads - deploying parallel simulations on cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) with distributed computing frameworks (e.g., Ray, Kubernetes)
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
- Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 5+ years of experience in robotic simulation, software engineering, or related fields
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
- Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
- Hearing and speech to communicate
*This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.
About Apptronik
Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.
We operate at the cutting edge of Applied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.
Equal opportunity and legal notices
Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
From Apptronik's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 21, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
How Rolev.ai helps with this application
Rolev.ai is a job search and application tool for US job seekers. For this Staff Simulation Engineer - Core Simulation Platform role at Apptronik, it shows how your resume fits, tailors your resume to the posting, and prepares the application for you to review.
See how you fit
Openings from employer career sites are ranked against your whole resume—and searchable inside Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor via Rolev.ai MCP.
Tailor without inventing
Every change to your resume is checked against your original. New experience goes in only with your yes—zero fabricated claims.
Draft the full kit
Tailored and Full Match resumes, role-specific cover letters, and answers to employer screening questions are prepared in seconds.
1-Click Extension Autofill
The Chrome extension fills the employer's Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, or Ashby form in 1 click. You review it and press Submit.
Common questions
Where is the Staff Simulation Engineer - Core Simulation Platform job at Apptronik located?
This Staff Simulation Engineer - Core Simulation Platform position at Apptronik is located in Sunnyvale, CA (On-site). Always check Apptronik's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
What qualifications are required for Staff Simulation Engineer - Core Simulation Platform at Apptronik?
For the Staff Simulation Engineer - Core Simulation Platform role, Apptronik highlights 5+ years of relevant experience; a master's degree; experience with C++, Python, Robotics fundamentals (kinematics, dynamics, controls, system identification), Modern robotic simulator experience (Isaac Lab, MuJoCo, or equivalent), Reinforcement Learning and VLA understanding, CI/CD and automated testing. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.
How do I apply for the Staff Simulation Engineer - Core Simulation Platform position at Apptronik?
This listing links directly to Apptronik's Greenhouse application page. You can apply directly on Apptronik's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Greenhouse application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.