AI Robotics Researcher

About NIO

NIO is a pioneer and a leading company in the premium smart electric vehicle market, founded in November 2014. Its mission is to shape a joyful lifestyle, building a community around smart electric vehicles and advancing next‑generation technologies in autonomous driving, digital technologies, electric powertrains, and batteries. The company’s flagship models include the ES8, ES7 (or EL7), ES6, EC7, EC6, ET7, and ET5.

We are seeking exceptional AI Robotics Researchers to join our next‑generation intelligent systems team—pioneering the intersection of embodied AI, dexterous robotic manipulation, and physical world understanding. This role is ideal for PhD students or recent graduates passionate about bridging fundamental AI research with real‑world robotic impact.

• Conduct original research in embodied AI, robotic manipulation, and world modeling—including perception, planning, and control.
• Develop and evaluate large‑scale multimodal models that integrate vision, language, proprioception, and tactile inputs for real‑world robotic tasks.
• Create and prototype algorithms for dexterous robotic hands, contact‑rich manipulation, and adaptive task generalization.
• Explore methods for sim‑to‑real transfer, self‑supervised physical interaction learning, and reinforcement learning in dynamic environments.
• Collaborate with hardware and systems teams to translate research into real robotic systems—from simulation to physical deployment.
• Publish and present your work at top‑tier venues (e.g., CoRL, ICRA, RSS, NeurIPS) and contribute to advancing the state of embodied AI globally.
• Shape the long‑term roadmap of NIO’s embodied intelligence initiative, defining the frontier of AI‑powered robotics in real‑world domains.

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or related fields.
• Deep understanding of robot learning, reinforcement learning, imitation learning, world modeling, or differentiable physics simulation.
• Hands‑on experience with robotic manipulation, grasp planning, tactile sensing, or multi‑sensor fusion.
• Proficiency in Python and modern ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, JAX, Tensor Flow), and robotics middleware such as ROS
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• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and publish in leading AI/robotics venues.
• Strong analytical and system‑building skills; ability to work across simulation, perception, control, and physical robot hardware.

• Ph.D. (or Ph.D. candidate expecting graduation within 6–12 months).
• Track record of publications in top AI or robotics conferences (CoRL, ICRA, IROS, RSS, NeurIPS, CVPR, ICML).
• Experience with dexterous manipulation systems, multi‑fingered hands, or grasp optimization.
• Familiarity with 3D perception, neural implicit representations, or foundation models for robotics.
• Experience in sim‑to‑real transfer, real‑time control, or model‑based RL.
• Passion for applying AI to physical systems and creating robots that solve real problems in the real world.

The US base salary range for this full‑time position is $ – $. Individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. The stated salary reflects base pay only and does not include discretionary bonuses, equity, or benefits.

• CIGNA EPO, HSA, and Kaiser HMO medical plans with $0 for Employee Only Coverage.
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plan with $0 paycheck contribution covering you and eligible dependents.
• Company‑paid HSA (Health Savings Account) contribution when enrolled in the high‑deductible CIGNA medical plan.
• Healthcare and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• 401(k) with Brokerage Link option.
• Company‑paid basic life, AD&D, short‑term and long‑term disability insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Sick and vacation time.
• 13 paid holidays a year.
• Paid parental leave for first 8 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days of employment).
• Paid disability leave for first 6 weeks at full pay (eligible after 90 days of employment).
• Voluntary benefits including voluntary life and AD&D options for you, spouse/domestic partner and dependent child(ren), pet insurance.
• Commuter benefits.
• Mobile cell phone credit.
• Healthjoy mobile benefit app supporting you and your dependents with benefit questions on the go & support with benefit billing questions.
• Free lunch and snacks.
• Onsite gym.
• Employee discounts and perks program.