Robotics Simulation Integration Apprentice

About Origin 

Origin (previously 10xConstruction) is building general-purpose autonomous robots for US construction to tackle rising costs, safety risks, and labour shortages. Our modular, multi-trade platform combines purpose-built hardware with real-time site intelligence to navigate complex environments and execute tasks with precision. Trained in high-fidelity simulation and already deployed on live sites, our robots deliver 5x faster execution, 250%+ margin expansion, and significant cost savings. Join India’s most talent-dense robotics team consisting of individuals from IITs, Stanford, UCLA, etc. 

About the Role

The Apprentice role is a deeper engagement than the internship. You will own the integration of one submodule end-to-end — from design through implementation, test infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance. You will also contribute to HIL setup and help onboard future interns.

What You'll Do

Submodule Ownership

• Take full ownership of integrating one robot submodule into Isaac Sim
• Design the simulation model: sensors, actuators, physics parameters, and ROS2 bridge configuration
• Ensure the module behaves identically in sim vs. real — same latency profile, same topic graph, same error conditions
• Maintain the integration as the real module evolves (track upstream changes, update sim models)

Test Infrastructure Development

• Build and maintain the pytest test suite for the owned module
• Define fixtures, mock environments, and parameterised test scenarios
• Set up integration test pipelines that run inside CI
• Create metrics dashboards to track test pass rates, regression trends, and sim-to-real divergence

HIL Setup & Validation

• Design and implement the HIL loop for the assigned module: physical hardware ↔ ROS2 bridge ↔ Isaac Sim
• Write validation scripts that run automated hardware commands and verify sim state matches
• Document HIL setup procedures for the team (wiring, driver config, calibration steps)
• Identify and resolve latency / timing issues in the control loop

Cross-Module Collaboration

• Coordinate with navigation, manipulation, and perception teams to understand interface contracts
• Surface simulation discrepancies to module owners with reproducible test cases
• Propose improvements to the simulation framework based on findings

What We're Looking For

• B.Tech / M.Tech in Robotics, CS, EE, or related field (completed or near-completion)
• Strong ROS2 knowledge: has built nodes, written launch files, debugged topic graphs
• Python proficiency with clean code habits (type hints, tests, docstrings where needed)
• Hands-on experience with at least one submodule area:
• Navigation: Nav2, costmaps, AMCL/SLAM, path planning
• Manipulation: MoveIt2, motion planning, IK, joint trajectory control
• Perception: Depth cameras, pointcloud processing, SLAM, object detection
  Ability to work independently and manage a multi-week deliverable.
  
• Nice to Have
• Direct experience with Isaac Sim or Omniverse
• Experience setting up HIL or SIL (Software-in-the-Loop) test benches
• Background in control systems or embedded systems
• Knowledge of CI/CD (GitHub Actions, Docker, pytest, coverage tools)
• Experience with data logging and metrics tooling (rosbag, InfluxDB, Grafana)
  
• What You'll Learn / Build
• Complete ownership of a simulation module from scratch to production
• Advanced Isaac Sim: scripting, USD customization, PhysX parameter tuning
• HIL architecture: bridging real hardware with simulation in a closed-loop system
• Robotics test engineering: how to write tests that actually catch sim-to-real failures
• Mentoring skills: guiding future interns through onboarding
  
• What We Expect
• Documentation: Every integration or test you build must have a clear README or Confluence page
• Code Quality: All code goes through PR review; follow existing style (Black, isort for Python)
• Communication: Weekly sync with team lead; async updates on Slack for blockers
• Ownership: If you built it, you own debugging it when it breaks
• Curiosity: Read the real robot's code before simulating it — understand before implementing
  
• How to Apply
1. A short description of a ROS2 project you've worked on — what problem you solved, what you built, what broke and how you fixed it.
2. Any prior experience with simulators — even Gazebo counts.
3. Which submodule area interests you most (navigation / manipulation / perception) and why.

Why Join Us?

• Gain experience in a dynamic startup environment at the forefront of robotics and AI innovation.
• Contribute to the development of technology that will revolutionize the construction industry.
• Work alongside a talented and passionate team committed to making a real-world impact.
• Learn from experienced professionals and gain valuable skills in robotics software engineering.
• Gain practical experience in a real-world engineering environment.
• Contribute to a project with the potential to make a significant impact on the construction industry.