Robotics Software Engineer: Simulation and Data Collection - Honda Research Institute USA

Robotics Software Engineer: Simulation and Data Collection

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Robotics Software Engineer: Simulation and Data Collection

Job Number: P25T02
Honda Research Institute USA (HRI-US) is seeking a Robotics Software Engineer to build and scale high-fidelity manipulation simulation and digital-twin environments that accelerate dexterous manipulation, teleoperation, robotics data collection, and system deployment. The role spans environment authoring, sensor-accurate simulation (vision, tactile, force/torque), teleoperation interfaces, large-scale data collection, and system evaluation. The engineer will work closely with controls, perception, hardware, and research teams to deliver robust, production-ready, sim-to-real validated capabilities. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in control and robotics, especially manipulation and dexterous manipulation, and sufficient familiarity with learning-based methods to help researchers rapidly implement and evaluate new ideas in simulation.
San Jose, CA

 

Key Responsibilities

 

  • ​Develop robust simulation environments for dexterous manipulation, task prototyping, system
    validation, and sim-to-real evaluation.
  • Build digital twins of robots, end-effectors, sensors, and workcells for software-in-the-loop and
    hardware-in-the-loop testing.
  • Simulate vision, tactile, force/torque, and proprioceptive sensors with realistic noise, latency, and
    task-relevant physical behavior.
  • Support the integration of learning-based methods such as RL, IL, and related approaches into
    simulation environments to help researchers prototype and evaluate ideas efficiently.
  • Create scalable data collection pipelines for simulation and real-world teleoperation, including
    logging, dataset management, quality control, and supporting interfaces.
  • Implement teleoperation interfaces and policy-in-the-loop evaluation tools.
  • Evaluate simulation fidelity and trained system performance using synthetic and real-world data
    collection and manipulation benchmarks.
  • Oversee large-scale data collection procedures and help ensure consistency, usability, and quality
    of collected data.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional robotics, controls, perception, hardware, and research teams
    across multiple projects.
  • Document results and contribute to internal reports, demos, technical presentations, and
    intellectual property.

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

  • MS or PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
  • Proficiency in C++ and Python for robotics software development.
  • Experience with ROS and robot control stacks.
  • Experience building simulation environments, digital twins, or validation infrastructure for robotic
    manipulation.
  • Experience using modern simulators such as NVIDIA Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, or similar platforms.
  • Experience with data collection pipelines in simulation and/or real robotic systems.
  • Familiarity with implementation of learning-based methods sufficient to support rapid prototyping
    and integration of research ideas into practical simulation workflows.
  • Strong foundation in robot kinematics, dynamics, and control.

 

Bonus Qualifications

  • Experience with dexterous or multi-finger robotic hands.
  • Whole-hand control, grasp synergies, or in-hand manipulation experience.
  • Tactile sensing and tactile simulation experience.
  • Experience with teleoperation systems, operator interfaces, or demonstration collection.
  • GPU acceleration or large-scale simulation and data collection pipelines.
  • Experience defining evaluation metrics and analyzing manipulation performance and sim-to-real gaps.
  • Experience developing and implementing model-based and learning-based manipulation systems.
  • Publications, patents, or open-source contributions in robotics or manipulation.

 

Desired Start Date   4/20/2026
Contract Duration   3 years
Position Keywords  Robotic simulation; data collection; learning and control; dexterous manipulation; tactile sensor 

Alternate Way to Apply

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- Recent CV 
- A cover letter highlighting relevant background (Optional)

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