Robotics AI Research Engineer - CoRL

Maven Robotics
Santa Clara, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Geared toward AI researchers and engineers comfortable with real-world robotics deployment and high-scale data systems, working in Santa Clara, CA, in a full-time, collaborative, and technically rigorous environment.

Best fit for

  • AI researchers with expertise in VLA models and real-world reinforcement learning
    — “Design model architectures (VLA, World Models, etc.) that achieve ultra-high task success rates”
  • Candidates with experience in large-scale distributed training and edge deployment
    — “Experience with deployment of models to edge devices (NVIDIA Jetson/Orin) for real-time inference”
  • Individuals with deep knowledge of Python and PyTorch or JAX frameworks
    — “Expert-level Python and deep familiarity with PyTorch or JAX”

Things to consider

  • The role demands a strong ability to innovate rather than just implement solutions
    — “Proven ability to innovate—not just implement—within one or more areas”
  • Candidates should be prepared to work in a fast-evolving hardware environment
    — “Build models capable of zero-shot or few-shot adaptation to new robot configurations”

How to stand out

  • Highlight specific contributions to VLA models or real-world RL in your resume and interviews
    — “Architect Embodied Foundations: Design model architectures (VLA, World Models, etc.)”
  • Emphasize experience with data-efficient learning and co-training strategies
    — “Develop novel co-training strategies and efficient learning algorithms”
  • Demonstrate your ability to turn research into deployed systems with concrete examples
    — “We work at the intersection of advanced research and real-world engineering”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • designed and implemented AI models for robotics
  • developed novel learning algorithms
Typical background
PhD in CS, Robotics, Machine Learning

Skills & requirements

Required

AI ResearchRoboticsReinforcement LearningModel Architecture

Preferred

High-impact PublicationsLarge-scale Distributed TrainingModel Compression

Stack & domain

AIRoboticsMachine LearningVision-language-action (vla)Reinforcement LearningPyTorchJAXPythonInnovationWorld-class ExcellenceModel ArchitectureRL FormulationsLarge-scale Data InfrastructureSoftware ExcellenceNullData Infrastructure

About the role

Original posting from Maven Robotics via Greenhouse

About Maven

Maven Robotics designs, builds, and deploys intelligent robotics for logistics and manufacturing. Maven is building the first general-purpose robotics system for industrial work. Our mission is to activate autonomous labor at scale and build toward infinitely elastic industrial capacity. We’re a team of engineers, researchers, and operators who have spent our careers working on the hardest problems in AI, robotics, engineering, and autonomous systems. We work at the intersection of advanced research and real-world engineering, turning ideas into prototypes and deployed systems.

At Maven, we build around the realities of industrial work. The robots are designed from first principles for complex physical environments and rigorous commercial standards. They master real tasks that deliver immediate impact, industrial-grade reliability, and intelligence that compounds at scale. We’re growing an ambitious team of people who think in systems, move quickly, and are builders at heart.

About the Role

We are seeking exceptional AI researchers and engineers to architect the neural backbone of our general-purpose robots. You will design the Vision-Language-Action (VLA) frameworks or Action World Models that allow our robots to reason, adapt, and succeed where traditional automation fails.

We are hiring across all levels (from early-career to staff/principal). You are not expected to be a master of every domain listed below; however, you must be able to justify world-class excellence in at least one core factor (e.g., model architecture, RL formulations, or high-scale data systems).

What You’ll Do

Architect Embodied Foundations: Design model architectures (VLA, World Models, etc.) that achieve ultra-high task success rates with minimal human demonstrations

Master Data Efficiency: Develop novel co-training strategies and efficient learning algorithms that leverage diverse data sources—from Internet-scale video to sparse, high-fidelity human interventions

Generalize Cross Embodiments: Build models capable of zero-shot or few-shot adaptation to new robot configurations, maintaining a high success rate even when proprietary hardware and actuation systems evolve

Innovate Real-World RL: Formulate and deploy novel Reinforcement Learning and policy extraction methods specifically designed for physical, real-world manipulation

Design the Data Loop: Collaborate on advanced data collection systems to capture critical human intervention data for model bootstrapping

What We’re Looking For

MS or PhD in CS, Robotics, Machine Learning, or a related field (or equivalent industry experience)

Deep Technical Mastery: Advanced understanding of transformers, multi-modal alignment, and mapping perception to high-frequency motor control

Specialized Excellence: Proven ability to innovate—not just implement—within one or more areas: VLA models, Real-world RL, or large-scale Data Infrastructure

Software Excellence: Expert-level Python and deep familiarity with PyTorch or JAX

Nice to Have

A track record of high-impact publications (NeurIPS, ICRA, RSS, CVPR) or significant open-source contributions

Experience with large-scale distributed training and model compression

Experience with deployment of models to edge devices (NVIDIA Jetson/Orin) for real-time inference

General knowledge of robotics principles (kinematics, dynamics)

Compensation & Benefits

The annual base salary range for this position is $175,000 – $350,000 USD plus equity. Compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, and role-related experience. Maven Robotics also offers comprehensive health benefits, 401k, and other employee benefits.

Equal Opportunity

Maven Robotics is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Source: Maven Robotics careers (Greenhouse)

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