Sr. AI Engineer - Physical AI

Scion Technology has been engaged to conduct a search for an experienced Sr. AI Engineer (Physical AI) for our client, a pioneering team pushing the boundaries of robotics in Boston! This is a full-time, direct hire position offering a hybrid schedule in North Reading, MA. Position Overview Develop and deploy innovative AI solutions for industrial robots and autonomous mobile platforms. Craft real-world AI models that enable robots to see, understand, and navigate complex environments safely and reliably. PERKS • Competitive annual salary up to $350k/yr (depending on experience) + bonus & equity • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance • Be at the forefront of industrial automation innovation • Work on mature, deployed platforms that solve real-world problems, directly impacting industries worldwide • Work across diverse cutting-edge projects, from perception to autonomous navigation and manipulation Responsibilities • Lead the design, development, and deployment of robust physical AI systems that empower robots to detect obstacles, recognize objects, estimate 3D poses, and localize within dynamic settings. • Build and optimize deep learning models utilizing sensors such as RGBD cameras, LiDAR, and Time-of-Flight sensors, ensuring they operate efficiently in real-world industrial environments. • Implement multi-modal perception frameworks, integrating vision, sensor fusion, SLAM, and localization techniques, with a focus on trade-offs between performance and cost. • Take AI models from research prototypes through rigorous testing, validation, and deployment into production, supporting ongoing operational performance and safety. • Collaborate closely with R&D teams at Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots, helping shape next-generation collaborative and autonomous robotic solutions. • Employ scientific rigor to analyze and improve model performance, establish meaningful metrics, and ensure models meet safety and reliability standards critical for industrial applications. Qualifications • Master’s degree strongly preferred • Proven experience building and deploying deep learning-based computer vision systems (object detection, image segmentation, etc.) for physical robotics applications • Hands-on expertise with sensor technologies including RGBD cameras, LiDAR, ToF sensors, and sensor fusion techniques • Practical experience shipping AI-powered products to production, supporting field operations, and ensuring robustness in customer environments • Strong software engineering fundamentals with proficiency in Python and C++, integrating AI models into robotic software stacks such as ROS/ROS2 • Skilled in model training, fine-tuning, and evaluation, with an emphasis on maintaining rigorous validation standards • Familiarity with simulation environments and tools such as NVIDIA Isaac platform, Gazebo, or similar for accelerated testing and validation • Knowledge of SLAM algorithms, localization strategies, and their associated trade-offs in industrial and mobile robotics contexts • Demonstrated ability to work at the intersection of AI, perception, and robotics hardware, with experience working on industrial robotic arms or autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) • Passion for emerging fields like Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models and their application to robotics Compensation & Benefits This full-time position offers an annual base salary up to $350k, commensurate with experience, plus bonus and equity opportunities. The organization provides a robust benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage in addition to paid time off. About Our Firm Scion Staffing is a national award-winning staffing firm! Since 2006, we have had the pleasure of successfully placing thousands of talented professionals with amazing career opportunities. Through our innovative team building and recruiting solutions, we bridge the gap in executive leadership searches, direct hire recruiting, interim leadership placement, and temporary professional staffing. We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Recruitment Firms and the Best Executive Search Firms in America. Additionally, Scion has been recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times. Additional information about our firm can also be found online. Scion Staffing, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent. For opportunities located in a region that have enacted fair chance, arrest or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Staffing proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.