Apptronik is seeking a Dexterity Engineer to build the software bridge between human intent and robotic execution. In this role, you will be a core contributor to the teleop stack, ensuring our humanoid, Apollo, can perform complex, contact-rich tasks with high fidelity. You will accelerate bimanual manipulation in at least two ways: Firstly, by developing the retargeting and haptic frameworks that make teleoperation intuitive for the operator. Secondly, by building the simulation and testing infrastructure that validates end-effectors (COTS and internal designs) while ensuring every movement generates training-ready data for autonomy and reinforcement learning pipelines.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Retargeting & Mapping Algorithms
  • Generic Dexterity: Implement and refine retargeting algorithms (IK-based, optimization-based, or learned) that can map human hand kinematics to varied robotic configurations.
  • Signal Integrity: Address real-world teleop challenges: jitter reduction, handling sensor dropouts, and implementing safe fallback behaviors.
• Simulation & Testing Infrastructure
  • End-Effector Validation: Build automated workflows in MuJoCo/IsaacSim environments and real-robot testbeds to benchmark hand designs.
  • Performance Metrics: Develop automated scoring for dexterity to inform hardware and software design.
• Haptics & Tactile Integration
  • Sensory Loop: Integrate haptic gloves and tactile sensor data into the control loop to provide operators with force-reflective feedback.
  • Data Consumption: Ensure high-bandwidth tactile data is cleanly ingested into the robot state and logged for model training.
• Advanced Control & RL Frameworks
  • Fidelity Improvements: Research and implement control methodologies that improve the transparency of the teleoperation experience.
  • RL Scaffolding: Build the framework required to swap manual teleoperation with learned policies, enabling "shared autonomy" where the robot assists the operator in complex manipulations.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Proficiency with at least one: C++/Python
• Experience developing controls for robotics applications
• Demonstrated competence with Git or version control of distributed systems
• Ability to work in Linux and write shell scripts in bash 
• At least one year of real-time, hardware-in-the-loop software development 

Bonus Qualifications:

• Academic publications on robotic control and familiarity with recent teleop research
• Dexterous manipulation development experience
• Expertise with multiple of C++/C#/Python/MuJoCo/IsaacSim/ROS
• Prior VR peripheral integration experience
• Experience developing in any of Unity/Godot/Unreal/SteamVR/OpenXR
• Familiarity with Docker and containerization

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 2 years of professional, full-time experience building and maintaining reliable, scalable systems.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
• Hearing and speech to communicate