Robotics and AI Scientist, Iowa Technology Institute

UIOWA • Iowa City, IA

3d

About The Position

The Iowa Technology Institute within the College of Engineering is seeking a Robotics Simulation Engineer. This role will focus on the development and control of Santos, the virtual soldier, within the NVIDIA Isaac platform and will apply advanced robotics principles to a humanoid model, creating and validating complex virtual human behaviors for simulation environments. This will be a two year specified term appointment, (anticipated end date 8/31/2027), and is funded by the US Army I-STRIKE project. About the College of Engineering The College of Engineering at the University of Iowa is driven by talented faculty, staff, and students who are dedicated to producing knowledge that addresses grand challenges in advanced technologies, health sciences, sustainability, energy, and the environment. We pride ourselves on producing ethical, globally aware engineers whose work makes the world safer and more efficient. As a center of innovation and discovery, the College of Engineering is committed to improving the quality of life for our Iowa community, as well as for people across the United States and around the world. We uphold the values of respect, community, and collaboration in all our endeavors, fostering a welcoming and respectful environment where members are valued and supported. Joining our team means becoming part of a supportive environment that values work-life balance and personal well-being. The University of Iowa offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health and wellness resources, dual career support, and opportunities for professional development. Learn more about working at the University of Iowa: Build A Career/Build a Life. About Iowa Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, where your work directly impacts education, research, and student success. Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance. Iowa City offers a great quality of life with world-class performances at Hancher Auditorium, Big Ten athletics, top-ranked public schools, and outdoor recreation. Join us in making a difference at a leading Big Ten university and premier public research institution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related field and a minimum of 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Expert knowledge of robotic kinematics, including humanoid kinematics and locomotion, control theory, and advanced motion planning for complex, multi-degree-of-freedom systems.
• Strong Proficiency in Python for simulation scripting, and exceptional skills in C++ for developing high-performance, real-time control modules.
• Extensive experience with NVIDIA Isaac Sim and the broader Omniverse platform. This includes building and configuring virtual worlds, importing assets, and using the core APIs to create and test human-centric scenarios.
• Specific experience with humanoid robotics or virtual characters, with a focus on implementing inverse kinematics and bipedal control systems.
• Practical experience with virtual sensor creation and data processing, specifically for use in perception and navigation tasks within a simulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Utilize and process motion capture (MoCap) data to animate and validate Santos's movements, ensuring the virtual soldier's behavior is both physically accurate and realistic.
• Perform basic and complex procedures and techniques as outlined in research protocol, assure fidelity to protocols, may propose modifications to protocols and/or assist in the design of research protocols.
• Design portions of research plan.
• Monitor, test, and evaluate current procedures.
• Supervise adherence to safety and compliance guidelines when necessary.
• Contribute to progress reports required by funding agencies.
• Participate in the development of new proposals for research and obtain external funding support for new and/or continuing research activities.
• Perform experiments, simulations, or theoretical investigations.
• Collect data and evaluate relevance of data.
• Work independently on basic research tasks with oversight by Faculty or Principal Investigator (PI).
• Contribute to documentation of equipment and procedures.
• Prepare manuscripts for contributing author for publication.
• Present results in departmental seminars and at professional meetings.
• Participate in public outreach activities as required by funding sources.
• May participate in national and international meetings within the discipline.

Benefits

• Regular salaried position.
• Pay level 5B .
• Located in Iowa City, Iowa.
• Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.
• Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies.
• Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists.
• Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees