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Reinforcement Learning Robotics Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Figure is an AI robotics company developing autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. Our goal is ... We are looking for a Helix AI Engineer, Reinforcement Learning to develop learning systems that ...

Senior Reinforcement Learning Engineer

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$103K - $142K/yr

Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting ... JOB SUMMARY The Senior Reinforcement Learning Engineer is a key, hands-on role focused on achieving ...

Robotics Simulation & Machine Learning - Experience working with simulation environments or robotic hardware, including reinforcement learning, diffusion models, or robotic AI workflows. Opportunity ...

Robotics Simulation & Machine Learning - Experience working with simulation environments or robotic hardware, including reinforcement learning, diffusion models, or robotic AI workflows. Opportunity ...

Experience with ROS 2 * Experience with computer vision and sensor data processing for robotics applications * Practical knowledge of reinforcement learning and/or imitation learning for robot ...

Experience with ROS 2 * Experience with computer vision and sensor data processing for robotics applications * Practical knowledge of reinforcement learning and/or imitation learning for robot ...

Research Scientist

Cupertino, CA ยท Hybrid

$150K - $300K/yr

We are looking for someone with expertise in and enthusiasm for machine learning research, especially in Robotics, Embodied AI, Reinforcement learning (RL) , etc. As a Research Scientist in the team ...

Research Scientist

Cupertino, CA ยท On-site

$150K - $300K/yr

We are looking for someone with expertise in and enthusiasm for machine learning research, especially in Robotics, Embodied AI, Reinforcement learning (RL) , etc. As a Research Scientist in the team ...

Showing results 41-60

Reinforcement Learning Robotics information

What are some common challenges faced when implementing reinforcement learning algorithms in robotics projects?

One common challenge in this role is bridging the gap between simulation and real-world environments, as algorithms that perform well in simulation may not translate directly to physical robots due to unpredictable variables and hardware limitations. Additionally, ensuring the safety and stability of the robot during training is crucial, since trial-and-error learning can sometimes result in unintended behaviors or hardware damage. Collaboration with hardware engineers and domain experts is often necessary to fine-tune models, interpret results, and iterate on solutions. Overcoming these challenges requires patience, adaptability, and strong communication skills within a multidisciplinary team.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a reinforcement learning robotics engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Reinforcement Learning Robotics Engineer, you need a strong background in robotics, machine learning, and programming, typically supported by a degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Expertise with frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, experience with simulation environments (such as Gazebo or ROS), and familiarity with reinforcement learning algorithms are essential. Strong problem-solving skills, creativity, and effective communication set standout professionals apart in this rapidly evolving field. These skills enable engineers to develop intelligent robotic systems that adapt and learn efficiently, driving innovation and practical deployment in real-world environments.

What is reinforcement learning in robotics?

Reinforcement learning in robotics refers to a type of machine learning where robots learn to perform tasks through trial and error, receiving feedback from their actions in the form of rewards or penalties. This approach allows robots to autonomously develop complex behaviors by interacting with their environment, rather than relying solely on pre-programmed instructions. Reinforcement learning is especially useful for tasks that are difficult to model explicitly, such as walking, grasping, or navigation. Over time, the robot improves its performance by maximizing the cumulative reward, leading to more efficient and adaptive behaviors.

What is the difference between Reinforcement Learning Robotics vs Machine Learning Engineer?

AspectReinforcement Learning RoboticsMachine Learning Engineer
Required CredentialsDegree in Robotics, Computer Science, or related fields; knowledge of reinforcement learningDegree in Computer Science, Data Science, or related fields; expertise in machine learning algorithms
Work EnvironmentRobotics labs, manufacturing, autonomous systemsTech companies, data-driven projects, software development
Industry UsageAutonomous robots, industrial automation, researchData analysis, predictive modeling, AI applications

Reinforcement Learning Robotics focuses on applying reinforcement learning techniques to control and optimize robotic systems, often in physical environments. Machine Learning Engineers develop algorithms for a broad range of applications, including data analysis and predictive modeling. While both roles require knowledge of machine learning, Reinforcement Learning Robotics emphasizes robotics and real-world interaction, whereas Machine Learning Engineers work across various industries with software-based solutions.

More about Reinforcement Learning Robotics jobs
What cities are hiring for Reinforcement Learning Robotics jobs? Cities with the most Reinforcement Learning Robotics job openings:
What states have the most Reinforcement Learning Robotics jobs? States with the most job openings for Reinforcement Learning Robotics jobs include:
Infographic showing various Reinforcement Learning Robotics job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.

Helix AI Engineer, Reinforcement Learning

Figure

San Jose, CA โ€ข On-site, Remote

$200K - $400K/yr

Other

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

Figure is an AI robotics company developing autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. Our goal is to build embodied AI systems that can perceive, reason, and act in the real world. Figure is headquartered in San Jose, CA, and this role requires 5 days/week in-office collaboration.

Our Helix team is responsible for developing the core AI systems that power humanoid autonomy. We are looking for a Helix AI Engineer, Reinforcement Learning to develop learning systems that enable robots to acquire skills through interaction, feedback, and experience.

This role focuses on applying and advancing reinforcement learning across simulation and real-world environments-improving policy performance, robustness, and long-horizon decision-making in embodied systems.

Responsibilities
  • Design and implement reinforcement learning algorithms for embodied agents operating in real-world and simulated environments
  • Train policies that learn from interaction, feedback, and large-scale experience across diverse tasks
  • Develop reward modeling, credit assignment, and exploration strategies for complex, long-horizon behaviors
  • Improve policy robustness to real-world challenges such as noise, partial observability, and environment variability
  • Work across online and offline RL settings, including learning from large-scale logged robot data
  • Collaborate closely with pretraining, video, generative, agent, and robot learning teams to integrate RL into the full autonomy stack
  • Build scalable training systems for RL, including distributed rollouts, simulation infrastructure, and experiment management
  • Design evaluation frameworks to measure policy performance, stability, and generalization
Requirements
  • Experience developing and applying reinforcement learning algorithms in complex environments
  • Strong understanding of RL fundamentals (e.g., policy optimization, value methods, model-based RL)
  • Experience training policies in simulation and/or real-world systems
  • Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch
  • Experience with large-scale experimentation and distributed training systems
  • Strong experimental rigor and ability to diagnose and improve learning systems
  • Solid software engineering skills and ability to build scalable, reliable systems
  • Ability to operate independently and drive ambiguous, high-impact technical problems
Bonus Qualifications
  • Experience applying RL to robotics, control systems, or embodied AI
  • Experience with large-scale RL infrastructure (distributed rollouts, simulation at scale)
  • Background in offline RL, imitation learning, or hybrid learning approaches
  • Experience with reward modeling or human-in-the-loop learning
  • Experience at leading AI labs such as OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, or xAI
  • Familiarity with robotics systems, simulation environments, or real-world deployment constraints
  • Publication record in reinforcement learning, machine learning, or robotics

The USย baseย salary range for this full-time position is between $200,000 - $400,000

The pay offered for this position may vary based on several individual factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role. This information will be shared if an employment offer is extended.ย