Staff software engineer

Job Description:

Your Opportunity

Chewy Robotics is seeking a Staff Roboticist to join our Physical AI research and development team in Woburn, MA. As a senior individual contributor, you will lead the creation and deployment of robotic systems and AI algorithms that enable bi-manual manipulation of heavy deformables, touch-augmented vision-language-action (VLA) model training, and whole-body control and reinforcement learning for humanoid robots. You will serve as a technical authority in control systems, perception, and integrated robotic architectures that advance Chewy’s efforts to build the next generation of physical AI.

As a Staff Roboticist, you will operate as a top-level subject matter expert and architect, exhibiting broad technical influence and leadership without formal authority. This role owns the short- to mid-term execution of research strategy within the Physical AI domain, translating complex, ambiguous problems into scalable robotic solutions. The successful candidate demonstrates mastery across robotics system design, algorithm development, and experimental validation, while mentoring junior engineers and shaping technical direction across multiple teams. While not a people leader, the Staff Roboticist plays a critical role in guiding Chewy’s robotics research strategy and ensuring cross-functional alignment between AI scientists, controls engineers, and product stakeholders.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the research, design, and development of control architectures for humanoid and multi-agent robotic systems, integrating vision, force, touch, and learning-based approaches
• Develop and implement advanced algorithms for dynamic control, manipulation, and interaction with deformable objects
• Design and prototype real-time control systems, simulation pipelines, and model-based controllers for robotic platforms
• Utilize modern simulation and training environments such as Isaac Lab or Gym for robot learning, and Isaac Sim, Gazebo, or Mujoco for robotic system modeling and validation
• Collaborate with scientists to develop reinforcement learning and imitation learning pipelines for dexterous manipulation and whole-body coordination, leveraging frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
• Apply control theory and modeling tools such as MATLAB/Simulink for control system design, system identification, and validation
• Contribute to the architecture and deployment of distributed robotic systems, including communication frameworks for heterogeneous robot fleets
• Author and publish results in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, contributing to the state of the art in physical AI
• Provide technical mentorship and review designs and experiments conducted by junior engineers and research assistants
• Act as a bridge between AI, mechanical, electrical, and controls disciplines, ensuring that integrated systems perform reliably and are grounded in sound engineering principles

What You’ll Need

• MS or PhD in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, with 8+ years of experience in robotics R&D or advanced control systems
• Deep expertise in robot dynamics, control, and motion planning, including model predictive control (MPC), impedance/admittance control, or whole-body control
• Demonstrated experience with reinforcement learning, simulation-to-reality transfer, or learning-based control
• Strong software background in C/C++, Python, and ROS/ROS2, with experience in real-time control and embedded systems
• Proficiency with modern robotics simulation tools (Isaac Sim, Gazebo, Mujoco) and learning platforms (Isaac Lab, Gym)
• Experience using MATLAB/Simulink for system modeling, control design, and signal processing
• Familiarity with estimation algorithms such as Kalman and particle filters, SLAM frameworks, and sensor fusion methods for localization and perception
• Working knowledge of image processing techniques, digital filter design, and signal processing
• Familiarity with sensing and perception systems including force-torque sensing, IMU, RGB-D, or LiDAR fusion
• Proven track record of delivering complex robotic systems from concept to prototype, including cross-functional integration of hardware and software
• Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence teams and articulate a broad technical vision

Bonus

• Publication record and/or patents in relevant robotics, perception, or control domains preferred
• Experience in humanoid robotics or wearable/exoskeleton systems
• Familiarity with distributed control or orchestration of heterogeneous robot fleets
• Experience leading or contributing to open-source robotics or AI projects

The base salary range for this role is $166,000 - $265,500.

• The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, education, and work location. In addition, this position is eligible for 401k and a new hire and annual equity grant. C08+ positions may also be eligible for annual bonus.

We offer different types of insurance and benefits, such as medical/Rx, vision, dental, life, disability, hospital indemnity, critical illness, and accident. We offer parental leave, family services benefits, backup dependent care, flexible spending accounts, telemedicine, pet adoption reimbursement, employee assistance program, and many discounts including 10% off pet insurance and 20% off at Chewy.com.

Exempt salary team members have unlimited PTO, subject to manager approval. Team members will receive six paid holidays per year. Team members may be eligible for paid sick and family leave in compliance with applicable state and local regulations.

Chewy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, citizenship, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law, and you need an accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements, or if you need a religious accommodation, please contact [email protected].