- Robot type
- Humanoid
- Location
- AustinTexasUSA
- Job type
- Software
- Posted
- Aug 5, 2026
Software Engineer - Dexterous Manipulation
Job description
The Software Engineer – Dexterous Manipulation is a core contributor to our robots' ability to interact with the world with human-like precision. You will implement, tune, and deploy reinforcement learning and related learning-based control for high-DOF, multi-fingered robotic hands—translating state-of-the-art research (reinforcement / imitation learning, teleoperation retargeting) into reliable, production-grade software that runs in both simulation and on physical hardware. Working across simulation, hardware, and systems teams, you will get complex manipulation tasks working robustly on real robots.
Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support…
Job responsibilities
- Implement and tune control algorithms for multi-fingered hands—grasping, in-hand manipulation, and tactile-feedback integration.
- Develop and maintain manipulation software with low-latency, reliable execution inside the real-time controls stack.
- Translate state-of-the-art methods (RL / imitation policies, human-to-robot motion retargeting) into production-grade C++/Python.
- Build and refine sim-to-real pipelines—hand models, domain randomization, and validation in IsaacSim / MuJoCo / Drake.
- Deploy and debug manipulation capabilities on physical robots; diagnose sensor-noise, latency, and calibration issues.
- Collaborate with hardware and systems engineers, feeding back on hand performance and sensor/actuator requirements.
- Uphold code quality through rigorous testing, documentation, and peer review.
Job requirements
- Dexterous manipulation experience: multi-fingered grasping, in-hand manipulation, and high-DOF hand control.
- Reinforcement learning for robotic control—reward design, training, and debugging—ideally applied to dexterous manipulation (imitation learning and diffusion policies a plus).
- Strong Python and working C++ for real-time robotic software.
- Hands-on experience training and validating policies in a physics simulator (IsaacSim, MuJoCo, or Drake).
- Robotics fundamentals: kinematics, dynamics, and Jacobian-based control.
- A track record of getting algorithms working on physical hardware, not simulation alone.
- Nice to have: teleoperation (VR/haptic) and retargeting, tactile-sensing integration, computer vision (6D pose / point clouds), and end-effector bring-up & calibration.
- BS/MS/PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
Similar jobs
Apptronik · Software
Sr. Software Systems Safety Engineer
Sunnyvale, California
Apptronik · Software
Software Engineer - Manipulation
Sunnyvale, California · Austin, Texas
Apptronik · Software
Staff Simulation Engineer - Core Simulation Platform
Sunnyvale, California
Apptronik · Software
Senior Firmware Engineer – Hands
Austin, Texas
Robot deals
All deals →Like what we do? Buying through these links supports Bots n' Beans. We earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!



