Robotics Simulation Engineer

About the Role

What if the physics simulations you build could teach the next generation of robots how to walk, grasp, and safely navigate the real world?

Alignerr is looking for a Robotics Simulation Engineer to design, build, and optimize high-fidelity physical simulations that bridge the crucial gap between virtual environments and real-world robotic hardware. Working at the intersection of robotics, rigid-body physics, and software engineering, you will create the scalable simulation pipelines that power robot learning, controls development, and hardware validation.

This is a fully remote, flexible contract role with zero corporate red tape—just meaningful, deeply technical puzzles that directly impact the future of automation.

What You’ll Do

• Develop High-Fidelity Robot Models: Design and implement precise robot models (URDF, MJCF, or SDF) with accurate structural kinematics, rigid-body dynamics, and contact properties.

• Manage Simulation Environments: Build, maintain, and scale virtual testing grounds using major engines such as MuJoCo, NVIDIA Isaac Sim, and Gazebo.

• Close the Sim-to-Real Gap: Finetune intricate physics parameters—including friction, damping, inertia tensors, and actuator profiles—to maximize real-world policy transfer.

• Integrate ROS2 Workflows: Seamlessly couple simulation environments with ROS2 ecosystems to support downstream perception, planning, and control pipelines.

• Write Production Infrastructure: Develop clean, performant, and reusable infrastructure code using Python and C++.

• Optimize Performance: Profile and parallelize simulation workloads to maximize throughput for large-scale dataset generation or reinforcement learning runs.

• Document Architecture: Maintain clear, concise documentation outlining simulation configurations, pipeline logic, and model parameter baselines.

Who You Are

• Simulator Fluent: Possess strong, practical experience with at least one flagship simulator (MuJoCo, NVIDIA Isaac Sim, or Gazebo).

• Core Systems Developer: Highly proficient in Python and/or C++ within a robotics, simulation, or scientific computing framework.

• Dynamics Grounded: Solid conceptual grasp of rigid-body dynamics, multi-body kinematics, contact mechanics, and classical control theory.

• Pipeline Capable: Comfortable managing data flowing through a simulation pipeline—from automated scene generation to evaluation logging.

• Self-Directed Engineer: A detail-oriented, asynchronous communicator who excels at driving technical milestones independently.

Nice to Have (Bonus Points)

• Experience with advanced sim-to-real techniques (e.g., domain randomization, system identification, or deep RL).

• Familiarity with GPU-accelerated simulation frameworks such as Isaac Gym or MuJoCo MJX.

• A specialized background in legged locomotion, multi-body manipulation, or complex sensor simulation (LiDAR, IMUs, force/torque sensors).

• Familiarity with setting up CI/CD pipelines for automated simulation testing and regression validation.

• Graduate-level coursework or an advanced degree in Robotics, Controls, or Computational Physics.

Why Join Us?

• High-Fidelity Impact: Work on advanced simulation environments that directly dictate how real-world robots learn, move, and operate.

• Uncompromising Flexibility: Enjoy complete freelance autonomy with a 100% remote layout that lets you work whenever and wherever you are most productive.

• Research-Grade Tech: Gain exposure to state-of-the-art physics engines, hardware platforms, and algorithmic workflows alongside a elite global network of robotics experts.

• Scalable Engagement: Benefit from a predictable, hourly milestone framework with high potential for long-term contract extension.