Machine Learning Research Engineer

Scale's Robotics business unit is dedicated to solving the data bottleneck in Physical AI. This position will be a key contributor in conducting applied research in Robotics and developing ML pipelines for training and fine-tuning on data collected by Scale. In this role, you will have the opportunity to advance Robotic research, shape Scale's robotics offerings, and expand the frontier of Robotics data and model evaluation.

You will:

• Collaborate closely with Robotics customers to drive the industry forward in using VLA data
• Develop ML pipelines to train/fine-tune models using Scale's data
• Conduct research on robotics data collection, cross-embodiment training, and policy fine-tuning
• Develop novel methods for evaluating VLA models, including new robotics industry benchmarks
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders and Scale's customers to improve data collection
• Collaborate with product teams to bring ML outcomes to Scale's platform

You have:

• Practical experience building training VLA models and/or building robotics data
• 3+ years of relevant industry experience in areas relating to: robotics, computer vision, embodied AI, sim-to-real, imitation learning, reinforcement learning, and vision language actions models
• PhD or equivalent experience in Machine Learning or Robotics
• A track record of published research in robotics
• Experience conducting data collection and performing evaluations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work with cross-functional teams and customers
• Intellectual curiosity, empathy, and ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy

Nice to haves:

• Experience working with robotics hardware platforms (robotic arms, perception systems, etc.)
• Experience deploying machine learning models on robotic systems in the field
• Experience with teleoperated or human-driven data for robotics (ALOHA, UMI, hand tracking, etc.)

Compensation packages at Scale for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position, determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, interview performance, and relevant education or training. Scale employees in eligible roles are also granted equity based compensation, subject to Board of Director approval. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process, and confirm whether the hired role will be eligible for equity grant. You'll also receive benefits including, but not limited to: Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, a learning and development stipend, and generous PTO. Additionally, this role may be eligible for additional benefits such as a commuter stipend.
The base salary range for this full-time position in the location of San Francisco is:

$218,400—$273,000 USD

PLEASE NOTE:
Our policy requires a 90-day waiting period before reconsidering candidates for the same role. This allows us to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation of all applicants.
About Us:
At Scale, our mission is to develop reliable AI systems for the world's most important decisions. Our products provide the high-quality data and full-stack technologies that power the world's leading models, and help enterprises and governments build, deploy, and oversee AI applications that deliver real impact. We work closely with industry leaders like Meta, Cisco, DLA Piper, Mayo Clinic, Time Inc., the Government of Qatar, and U.S. government agencies including the Army and Air Force. We are expanding our team to accelerate the development of AI applications.
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