AI & Control Senior Engineer - Modeling & Simulation

Version française disponible sur demande.

Our AI & Control Team is growing to meet new challenges!

Wandercraft develops advanced bipedal robots designed to operate safely and robustly in the real world. Simulation plays a central role in this effort: it allows us to design and validate control strategies, prototype new behaviors, and accelerate robot development before deploying algorithms on hardware.

In addition, since 2025, Wandercraft has been venturing into humanoid robotics in close collaboration with the Renault Group. Building on our expertise in bipedal robotics, we are expanding our capabilities in autonomy, manipulation, and large-scale experimentation. High-fidelity and scalable simulation environments will be a key enabler for these developments.

To support these ambitions, we are strengthening our simulation capabilities. The Senior Modeling & Simulation Engineer will play a crucial role in designing, developing, and evolving our simulation environment. This environment will support control development, large-scale experimentation, and machine learning workflows, enabling faster iteration and more reliable testing of our robotic systems.

The engineer will be integrated within the AI & Control department and will work closely with other members of the team. Simulation is a core tool used across many of our developments, and this role will collaborate regularly with other R&D teams, including embedded software, electronics, and mechanics.

In this role, you will contribute to improving the realism, robustness, and performance of our simulation tools. You will help develop new simulation capabilities, support large-scale experimentation for machine learning and control algorithms, and evaluate emerging simulation technologies relevant to robotics. Your work will play a key role in bridging algorithm development and real-world robotic deployment.

Reporting to Controls, Architecture, Product, Simulation team, the Senior Modeling & Simulation Engineer will be in charge of (non-exhaustive list):

• Develop and evolve the simulation environment to improve physical realism and model fidelity

• Optimize simulation performance and scalability to enable large-scale testing and learning campaigns

• Develop, implement, and run parameter identification methods to improve the accuracy and predictive power of simulation models

• Develop and apply methods to measure, analyze, and reduce the sim-to-real gap between simulated and real robotic systems

• Design and implement new simulation capabilities based on the needs of the control, robotics, and machine learning teams

• Maintain and evolve the simulation platform (software infrastructure, tools, and pipelines)

• Collaborate with the control and machine learning teams to facilitate the use of simulation for algorithm development and validation

• Conduct technology watch on methods, tools, and simulation engines relevant to robotics

• Identify, evaluate, and benchmark new simulators or simulation frameworks

• Lead the integration of new simulation engines into the control architecture

Preferred experience

• Diploma: Master’s Degree / PhD

• Required experience: 5+ years in robotics, simulation, or a related field

  Academic experience will be valued, particularly in relation to robotics simulation, physical modeling, machine learning, optimal control, or related fields.

  Creativity, innovation: you are able to develop new things with a limited existing base and to make prototypes (personal or professional robotics projects are highly appreciated).

  You have an interest in experimentation and adapting algorithms and tools to the constraints of real systems and commercial robotic products.

  You have experience in software development (Python/C++).

  You have experience in team software development (modularity, responding to specifications, continuous integration, etc.).

  You are comfortable with linear algebra (matrix calculations), kinematics, and physical modeling (reference frame changes, dynamics, contact modeling, etc.).

  Experience with robotics simulation tools or physics engines (e.g., MuJoCo, Isaac Sim, Gazebo, Drake, Bullet, etc.) is a strong plus.

  You are rigorous, able to proofread your work and explain your models, calculations, or algorithms clearly.

  You are curious and have good analytical skills, enabling you to monitor technological developments effectively and learn from scientific literature or meetings at conferences.

• Hard skills:

  • Programming (C++/Python)  - Expert Level

  • Algorithmics - Expert Level

  • Robotics (kinematics, dynamics, sensor data, motors)  - Expert Level

  • Multibody simulation - Expert Level

  • Multibody modeling  - Expert Level

  • Control theory - Autonomous Level

  • Machine Learning  - Autonomous Level