Member of Technical Staff - Microsoft Robotics, Robot Learning

• Develop and train end-to-end robot learning models, including vision-language-action (VLA) family of models, imitation learning policies, and reinforcement learning agents for manipulation, locomotion, and navigation tasks.
• Build, maintain, and optimize data pipelines for robot learning, including collection infrastructure for teleoperation demonstrations, data preprocessing, augmentation, quality filtering, and dataset versioning.
• Train machine learning and deep learning models on GPU computing clusters, implementing distributed training, hyperparameter optimization, curriculum learning, and training infrastructure automation.
• Deploy trained models to physical robot platforms, conducting real-world evaluation, debugging sim-to-real transfer issues, and iterating on model performance based on deployment feedback.
• Implement and maintain evaluation frameworks for robot learning models, including standardized task benchmarks, success rate tracking, generalization testing across objects and environments, and regression detection.
• Collaborate with robotics researchers, simulation engineers, and platform engineers to improve the end-to-end model development lifecycle, from data collection through deployment and monitoring.
• Write production-quality code in Python (including NumPy, PyTorch, JAX) that is well-tested, maintainable, and extensible, adhering to team coding standards and best practices.
• Review code and technical designs, providing feedback to develop other engineers’ skills and drive adherence to coding patterns, security practices, and engineering excellence standards.
• Stay current with state-of-the-art research in robot learning, foundation models for robotics, and physical AI, evaluating new model technologies and techniques for adoption and integration into the platform.
• Contribute to internal knowledge sharing through technical documentation, brown bag sessions, blog posts, and mentoring of team members.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 2+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
• OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 3+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
• OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 5+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
• OR equivalent experience.
• Experience in end-to-end robot learning, including imitation learning, reinforcement learning, or vision-language-action model training and deployment on physical robots.
• Proficiency in Python with deep experience in PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow for training and deploying deep learning models.
• Experience with robot learning data pipelines, including teleoperation data collection, data preprocessing, augmentation, and quality curation for model training.
• Hands-on experience deploying learned policies on physical robot platforms, debugging sim-to-real transfer challenges, and evaluating model performance in real-world settings.
• Familiarity with robotics middleware (ROS/ROS2), robot control interfaces, and sensor processing for perception-action loops.
• Track record of following state-of-the-art research in robot learning, foundation models, and physical AI, e.g., familiarity with latest leading robotics models (open- and closed-source), and emerging technologies across academia and robotics research labs.
• Experience with distributed training on GPU clusters, including familiarity with Azure Machine Learning, Kubernetes, or equivalent infrastructure.

Software Engineering IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $102,100 - $202,200 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $133,800 - $219,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.