# Staff Research Engineer, Robot Learning Systems at RoboForce

> United States · Staff · ML / AI · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aroboforce%3A5474741008 (read 2026-11-11).

## Facts (observed)

- Company: [RoboForce](https://alderhq.app/companies/roboforce)
- Location text: Milpitas, CA; Milpitas, CA
- Where it can be done from (inferred): United States (evidence: "Location: Milpitas, CA; Milpitas, CA")
- Posted: 2026-11-05 (6 days ago)
- First seen by alder: 2026-11-07 · last verified: 2026-11-11
- Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times
- Apply on the employer's site: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/roboforce/jobs/5474741008
- Skills listed (inferred): Python, C++

## Pay and sponsorship

- Posted pay: $225k–$265k per year (from the description)
- Market band for similar posted roles (SF Bay Area, n 195): p25 $242k, median $273k, p75 $298k
- H-1B filings at this company for similar roles, FY26: 6, median offered wage $195k ([US DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/performance))

## Description (the employer's text)

### Why RoboForce

RoboForce is an AI robotics company developing Physical AI–powered Robo-Labor for dull, dirty, and dangerous work. The company's robots are engineered for demanding industrial environments, with a focus on real-world deployment and scalability.

We are looking for a Staff Research Engineer, Robot Learning Systems to lead and own the engineering of the systems that turn embodied AI into real-world robot behavior. You will be the technical owner and lead for the full embodied systems stack — the onboard AI system, the data collection system, the teleoperation systems, and the on-robot reinforcement learning system — driving the direction hands-on and closing the loop between data, models, and action in the physical world.

### Responsibilities

Lead and own, from the engineering side, the embodied systems that power RoboForce's data flywheel — the onboard AI (inference) system, the data collection system, the teleoperation systems and the on-robot reinforcement learning system.

Set the technical direction and architecture for how learned models run, are evaluated, and improve on real robots.

Deliver these systems end-to-end on physical robots — from bring-up through reliable, real-time operation in demanding industrial environments.

Own on-robot deployment and closed-loop evaluation of policies, turning real-world performance into measurable improvements.

Partner with and influence the robotics software team and the ML research team to align interfaces and priorities across the stack.

Grow the direction — mentor engineers and raise the technical bar for embodied systems work.

### Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or related field with significant relevant experience, or a PhD degree.

Track record of leading complex robotic or embodied systems end-to-end and setting technical direction for other engineers.

Strong proficiency in both C++ and Python, with solid systems programming and real-time / performance-critical engineering skills.

Hands-on experience with ROS/ROS2 and robot middleware, including real-time integration of sensing, control, and compute.

Experience integrating and deploying ML models/policies into real-time robotic or autonomous systems — system ownership and building, rather than model training or research.

Requires 5 days/week in-office collaboration with the teams.

### Bonus Qualifications

Experience with teleoperation and data-collection systems (e.g., VR, UR, GELLO, UMI) and the challenges of collecting high-quality robot data at scale.

Experience with on-robot reinforcement learning or closed-loop policy-improvement systems.

Familiarity with robot learning policies (VLA, imitation learning, behavior cloning) and their real-time inference and control-integration characteristics.

Familiarity with manipulation stacks, whole-body control interfaces, or real-time middleware tuning.

### Benefits

Competitive stock options/equity programs.

Health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) plan.

Visa sponsorship and green card support for qualified candidates.

Lunches and dinners, a fully stocked kitchen, and regular team-building events.

Compensation: Salary $225,000–$265,000 USD + Bonus + Equity

The base salary range above represents the expected compensation for this full-time U.S. position. Final compensation will be determined based on role scope, level, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training, and may fall outside the listed range in exceptional cases.

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Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aroboforce%3A5474741008 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.