Haveron James

MEMBER OF TECHNICAL STAFF – SIMULATION ARCHITECTURE & PHYSICAL AI New York City | On-site $180,000–$300,000 + Equity

Physical AI will be built in simulation before it is deployed in the real world.

We're partnering with a venture-backed startup building simulation, validation, and digital twin technology for the next generation of robotics and autonomous systems.

The company is developing tools that enable robotics teams to design, validate, train, and deploy intelligent systems faster, safer, and at significantly lower cost.

As one of the earliest technical hires, you'll have the opportunity to shape both the platform and the future direction of the business.

THIS IS CLOSER TO A SIMULATION ARCHITECT THAN A TRADITIONAL SIMULATION ENGINEER

We're looking for a Member of Technical Staff capable of operating as a technical authority in a customer-facing environment, helping define simulation strategy, digital twin architecture, validation workflows, and sim-to-real deployment for next-generation robotic systems.

This role extends far beyond implementation. You'll influence platform design, customer delivery, technical direction, and long-term product strategy.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Build digital twins of complex robotic systems.
• Design simulation workflows customers rely on before hardware deployment.
• Model sensors, environments, and robot behaviour at high fidelity.
• Help define how Physical AI systems are trained, validated, and deployed.
• Work directly with customers to solve difficult robotics and autonomy challenges.

THE PROFILES THAT TEND TO DO WELL HERE

• Built simulation infrastructure, not just simulation scenarios.
• Owned digital twin, validation, sensor modelling, or sim-to-real initiatives.
• Worked across both simulation and real robotic systems.
• Influenced technical direction beyond individual implementation.
• Enjoy solving ambiguous customer problems from first principles.
• Deep hands-on experience with NVIDIA Isaac Sim strongly preferred.

Examples of relevant backgrounds include robotics, autonomy, simulation, perception, digital twins, synthetic data, localization, mapping, sensor fusion, and validation systems.

THE ROLE

You’ll work directly with engineers, customers, and leadership teams to solve complex challenges spanning simulation architecture, localization, mapping, sensor fusion, synthetic data generation, perception, robotics systems, and Physical AI.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, build, and scale high-fidelity robotics simulation environments.
• Develop digital twins and validation frameworks for real-world robotic systems.
• Own simulation workflows from concept through deployment and customer delivery.
• Build simulation infrastructure using NVIDIA Isaac Sim, Isaac Lab, Omniverse, OpenUSD, and PhysX.
• Drive sim-to-real initiatives through system identification, sensor calibration, validation, and domain randomization.
• Partner directly with customers to understand robotic systems and translate requirements into scalable simulation solutions.
• Influence core platform architecture and foundational technical decisions.
• Help define the future of simulation and validation for robotics and autonomous systems.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Staff-level technical capability within robotics simulation, autonomy, perception, localization, mapping, sensor fusion, or Physical AI.
• Deep hands-on experience with NVIDIA Isaac Sim strongly preferred.
• Experience with Isaac Lab, Omniverse, OpenUSD, digital twins, synthetic data generation, or sim-to-real workflows highly desirable.
• Experience building simulation environments, digital twins, or validation infrastructure from the ground up.
• Strong Python and/or C++ skills.
• Experience deploying systems from simulation into real-world robotic hardware.
• Hands-on experience with sensing systems including cameras, LiDAR, radar, depth sensors, IMUs, or related technologies.
• Experience in localization, mapping, sensor fusion, perception, digital twins, or autonomous systems is highly relevant.
• Strong understanding of robotics, autonomy, reinforcement learning, perception, or AI-driven robotic systems.
• Ability to thrive in ambiguity and take ownership of complex technical problems with minimal direction.
• Comfortable operating in a highly collaborative, customer-facing environment.

WHY THIS ROLE?

• Early-stage environment with significant technical ownership.
• Opportunity to influence product, architecture, and long-term company direction.
• Work directly with customers solving challenging robotics and autonomy problems.
• Shape simulation, validation, and digital twin strategy from an early stage.
• Build technology with the potential to become a critical part of next-generation robotics development workflows.

LOCATION

New York City (5 days per week on-site)

COMPENSATION

$180,000–$300,000 base salary plus meaningful equity participation.