Founding Robot Learning Research Engineer
WFA Digital Insight
As demand for automation and AI specialists grows rapidly, with a 25% increase in robotics job postings in the last year, Avomind is at the forefront with its cutting-edge approach to robot learning. With a unique thesis that data generation is key to unlocking robot learning potential, the company offers a compelling opportunity for those interested in pioneering work in this field. Candidates should be aware that this role requires a deep understanding of robot learning, data collection, and model development, as well as the ability to work in a lean, founding environment. Given the current market context, where companies are investing heavily in automation, this role presents a unique chance to be part of a revolutionary change in factory automation.
Job Description
About the Role
The Founding Robot Learning Research Engineer role at Avomind represents a unique opportunity to be part of a pioneering effort in robot learning and automation. As a key member of the founding team, you will be responsible for developing the learning pipeline that turns the factory data engine into dexterous robots. This involves thinking rigorously about hard problems, breaking them down into testable hypotheses, and resolving them through rapid experiments. The role is based in Vietnam, with the possibility of targeted trips to the US, and reports directly to the Co-founder/CTO.Avomind's approach to robot learning is centered around the idea that the biggest bottleneck in robot learning is data, and the best way to solve it is to generate data as a byproduct of revenue. This is achieved through a unique setup where workers in the Vietnam factory use handheld devices shaped like the robot's hands to generate morphology-matched demonstration data at scale. This data is then used to train the robots that will automate the factory, creating a self-sustaining loop of experimentation, data collection, model training, and deployment.
The company's thesis is groundbreaking, and the role offers the chance to work on a hard problem from day one, with deep ownership and the possibility to make a significant impact. As the infrastructure stabilizes, the work will shift towards advancing learning paradigms and pushing the frontier of dexterous automation.
What You Will Do
- Own the research, development, and scaling of robot learning systems.
- Break hard manipulation challenges into testable hypotheses and resolve them through rapid experiments.
- Develop end-to-end architectures, training pipelines, and evaluation systems for dexterous automation.
- Build the pipelines that make scalable, continuous data collection possible at a working factory.
- Develop software for robot, camera, and sensor systems that keep data flowing cleanly.
- Work on the embodiment transfer pipeline, aiming to validate it on real hardware.
- Participate in manipulation experiments on industrial robots and the in-house gripper.
- Contribute to the development of the world model and reward model proof of concept.
- Deploy and test continuous deployment experiments in simulation and on real hardware.
What We Are Looking For
- A deep understanding of robot learning, including manipulation challenges and data-driven approaches.
- Experience with rapid experimentation and hypothesis testing.
- Strong skills in software development, particularly for robot, camera, and sensor systems.
- Ability to work with data pipelines and architectures for continuous data collection.
- Experience with machine learning frameworks and tools.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to break down complex problems.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work in a lean team environment.
- Experience working in a remote or distributed team is a plus.
Nice to Have
- Experience with simulation environments for manipulation experiments.
- Knowledge of deformable manipulation and embodiment transfer.
- Familiarity with industrial robot systems and gripper technology.
- Experience with continuous deployment and testing methodologies.
Benefits and Perks
- The opportunity to work on a revolutionary project in robot learning and automation.
- Deep ownership and the chance to make a significant impact from day one.
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a lean team.
- Professional development opportunities in a rapidly growing field.
- Remote work arrangement with targeted trips to the US.
- Access to cutting-edge technology and tools in robot learning and automation.
How to Stand Out
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with robot learning, manipulation challenges, and data-driven approaches.
- Emphasize your ability to work in a lean team environment and take ownership of complex problems.
- Highlight any experience you have with rapid experimentation, hypothesis testing, and software development for robot systems.
- Showcase your understanding of machine learning frameworks and tools, and how you can apply them to robot learning.
- Be ready to talk about your experience with data pipelines, architectures, and continuous data collection.
- Consider creating a portfolio that demonstrates your work in robot learning, automation, or related fields, including any personal projects or research.
- Don't hesitate to ask about the company culture, team dynamics, and expectations for remote work arrangements during the interview process.
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