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Key job responsibilities
- Design and implement simulation features (physics models, joint types, sensor models) that generalize across multiple robotics programs
- Build and maintain automated pipelines for converting 3D models and CAD assets into simulation-ready formats using USD and related standards
- Develop integration adapters and APIs that connect the simulation platform to production robotics software stacks
- Improve platform reliability, performance, and operational excellence through testing, monitoring, and continuous deployment practices
- Partner with robotics engineers to translate simulation requirements into reusable platform capabilities
A day in the life
The hard part of robotics simulation is not modeling one robot. It is building a platform where any robotics team can compose a physically-realistic environment from reusable components, plug in their software stack, and start iterating, without waiting for your team to do it for them. That is the engineering challenge at the center of this role: designing abstractions that are general enough to serve programs with very different physics requirements, yet precise enough that engineers trust the results.
You will navigate tradeoffs constantly. A physics model that is accurate for one manipulator may be too expensive for a training workflow that needs thousands of parallel environments. A self-service asset pipeline needs to be flexible enough for diverse CAD inputs but constrained enough to produce reliable, simulation-ready outputs. Every design decision you make shapes whether the platform scales to the next ten programs or becomes a bottleneck.
On a given day, you might design a new joint abstraction that handles both rigid and compliant mechanisms, debug a contact model where simulated friction diverges from physical behavior, or architect a USD-based pipeline stage that lets teams convert and validate assets without filing a ticket. The team ships monthly releases, and the measure of success is not any single simulation experiment, but whether the platform capabilities you build become the reusable foundation that accelerates every robotics program that follows.
About the team
The Simulation Engineering team builds physics-based simulation tools as part of Amazon Robotics' robotics development platform. Our mission is to make simulation the default starting point for robotics development, enabling teams to develop safer, more capable robots faster through sim-first workflows. We build standardized, reusable simulation capabilities that scale across robotics programs, so that every new program launches faster than the last.
We leverage industry-standard simulation engines and open-source robotics toolkits, and we contribute back to the open-source community.
We are a small, high-impact team that values mentorship, generalized solutions, self-service tooling, and close collaboration with the robotics programs we serve. You will work alongside experienced engineers and scientists who invest in your growth, with clear paths to take on larger scope and advance your career as the platform and team scale. Our work spans C++, Python, physics engines, 3D asset pipelines, USD workflows, and cloud infrastructure. Basic Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field
- 3+ years of programming using a modern programming language such as Java, C++, or C#, including object-oriented design experience
- 2+ years of designing and developing large-scale, multi-tiered, multi-threaded, embedded or distributed software applications, tools, systems, and services using: C#, C++, Java, or Perl experience Preferred Qualifications: - 1+ years of Unity, Unreal, CryEngine, Lumberyard or proprietary 3D game engine, or industry-equivalent technology (3D animation, simulation, etc.) experience
- Experience debugging, profiling, and implementing best software engineering practices in large-scale systems
- Master's degree in a related technical field
- Experience in robotics design, automation systems development, control systems design, or related product development
- Experience with simulation and 3D modeling software
- Familiarity with USD, URDF, SDF, or other scene and robot description formats
- Contributions to open-source robotics or simulation projects
- - Experience with containerized deployment (Docker) and CI/CD pipelines
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, MA, Boston - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually
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