Robotics Engineer/Scientist

About us

Hong Kong Quantum AI Lab (HKQAI) is assembling the team for a Physical AI for Science venture.

HKQAI is an R&D centre jointly established by The University of Hong Kong and the California Institute of Technology, with research spanning quantum chemistry, artificial intelligence and robotics.

We are building self-driving laboratories, in which AI agents design workflows, simulation platforms evaluate candidates, robots execute experiments, and every result feeds back into the next cycle.

We are looking for someone with

• Degree in robotics, CS, EE, ME or a related field from a top institution
• Evidence of exceptional engineering or research ability
• Hands-on experience building or working with robotic systems
• Learning agility
• Entrepreneurial temperament is a plus
• Candidates graduating before July 2027 are also welcome to apply

Key responsibilities

Across the team

• Build robotic systems capable of performing scientific laboratory tasks reliably and repeatedly
• Develop manipulation capabilities for laboratory objects such as vials, pipettes, powders, plates, containers and scientific instruments
• Build perception and control systems that operate in messy real-world laboratory environments
• Work closely with scientists to convert laboratory procedures into robotic skills

Embodied Intelligence track

• Develop and/or fine-tune VLA and robot foundation models for laboratory
• Build data-collection and demonstration pipelines for new robotic skills
• Apply imitation learning, reinforcement learning and other learning-based approaches where they outperform conventional automation
• Develop perception and manipulation policies that generalise across objects, instruments and experimental tasks
• Evaluate new embodied-AI research and translate useful advances into working robotic systems

Robotics Systems track

• Integrate robot arms, grippers, dexterous hands, cameras, sensors, liquid/powder handling equipment and scientific instruments
• Develop hardware/software interfaces and orchestration
• Design calibration, error recovery, monitoring and safety systems
• Improve cycle time, reliability and unattended operating time
• Build modular robotic workcells that can support new experiments and instruments

What we offer

• Multi-disciplinary environment to work alongside researchers across AI, chemistry, materials science and robotics
• Compensation commensurate with capabilities and experience, with flexibility for outstanding candidates
• Exceptional candidates will be offered a founding seat, in which your decisions will shape the company
• High job autonomy