Key Responsibilities

• Define and communicate a clear and forward-looking research strategy for the AI foundations of robotic manipulation.
• Guide the research direction of multiple team members, effectively allocating resources to meet long-term goals.
• Supervise, mentor, and support team members and interns to achieve both technical excellence and professional growth.
• Research, design, and implement advanced machine learning algorithms, including reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and foundation model approaches (e.g., LLMs/VLMs/VLAs), to enable contact-rich, dexterous manipulation and telemanipulation in real-world settings.
• Develop robot cognition and reasoning algorithms for adaptive intelligence, allowing robots to learn robust behaviors. 
• Ensure timely delivery of research outcomes aligned with project milestones and organizational objectives.
• Prepare and present technical reports, oral briefings, and live demonstrations for internal stakeholders and executives.
• Contribute to Honda's innovation portfolio through patents, academic publications, and prototype systems that showcase the value and applicability of the research.
• Maintain active collaboration with global Honda R&D teams and engage with academic and industrial partners to foster innovation and knowledge exchange.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with the ability to serve as a supervisor and lead investigator.
• Deep knowledge of learning-based methods, including reinforcement learning, generative models, and probabilistic inference.
• Experience in robotic manipulation, motion planning, control, and dynamics for autonomous systems.
• Familiarity with transformer architectures and multimodal foundation models applied to robotics.
• Strong understanding of robotics fundamentals, such as kinematics, dynamics, control systems, and haptics.
• Proven ability to conduct impactful research, with a strong record of publications in top-tier robotics and machine learning venues.
• Proficiency in C++ and/or Python, with hands-on experience using ROS and robotics simulation environments.
• Self-motivated and organized, with the ability to drive projects forward independently and meet milestones.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the preparation and delivery of presentations, technical reports, and academic publications.