Research Scientist

About the Role

Join Syncere as a Research Scientist, where you will design and implement advanced machine learning models powering our laundry-folding robot. You will manage the complete autonomy stack, from training manipulation models such as imitation learning, reinforcement learning, and visual-linguistic alignment, to deploying these models on real home robots. Your work will include extending state-of-the-art research, enhancing data pipelines, and collaborating with engineers to create dependable in-home robotics solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Training, deploying, and sustaining laundry folding models on physical robotic systems.
• Constructing autonomy solutions for manipulation tasks utilizing imitation learning, reinforcement learning, visual-linguistic alignment, and world modeling techniques.
• Building teleoperation and data collection frameworks along with simulation pipelines.
• Reproducing and advancing the latest robotics research.
• Conducting testing, debugging, and iterative development on lab robots.
• Working closely with the engineering team for integration and deployment.
• Adapting to flexible shift schedules, including nights and weekends as necessary.

Candidate Profile

• PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, or recent PhD graduates with specialization in robotics, machine learning, or related disciplines.
• Track record of publications in prestigious conferences or journals such as NeurIPS, ICRA, RSS, CoRL, T-RO, Science, or Nature.
• Strong expertise in robotic learning techniques including imitation learning, reinforcement learning, and classical control systems.
• Hands-on experience deploying machine learning models on physical devices, especially for complex manipulation tasks like folding.
• Capability to lead projects independently in dynamic and uncertain environments.
• Appreciation for design quality and consumer-focused robotics development.
• Excellent communication skills with clarity and conciseness.
• Educational background from a top 20 global university.

Desirable Traits

• A passion for thoughtful product design, able to identify and explain items that inspire joy.
• Enthusiast of good food with strong opinions about local eateries, contributing to team meals.
• Motivated self-starter who thrives on exceeding expectations and disproving skeptics.
• Collaborative team player who offers and accepts constructive feedback gracefully.
• Interest in hobbies such as photography, music, or sports, fostering social connection.
• A sense of humor capable of blending research insights with cultural memes.

Additional Information

• Positions available as full-time and internships with a minimum duration of 6 months.
• Work schedule is in-person, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM.
• Benefits package includes health insurance, company holidays, team meals, and sick leave.
• Immediate start candidates will be given preference.

Application Instructions

Submit your resume along with a cover letter that highlights your qualifications, relevant experiences, projects, publications, and skills in bullet points. Please include the name of the person who referred you if applicable and mention a unique aspect about yourself. Clarify your expected start date clearly.