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The role
Most robotics simulation still relies on engines built for video games or legacy CPU physics packages never designed for massive parallelisation. This Cambridge-based startup, backed by leading VCs with a long runway and founded by veteran architects who spent over a decade building physics engines at a major semiconductor giant, is rewriting the simulation and learning stack for modern robotics from the ground up. They are a lean, deeply technical team of eleven working alongside live humanoid and quadruped hardware.
You will lead the hands-on development of the core simulation and engine infrastructure, coding alongside founders who still commit engine code daily. This is a senior IC anchor seat, not an ivory-tower management track: the on-site engineering team is early-career and needs a senior systems engineer in the room to review, unblock, and mentor. If you want layers of middle management and abstracted ticket-shuffling, this is not it; if you want to write modern C++ close to the hardware and watch your simulation train physical robots in the lab, it is.
The work
- Architect and implement the core GPU-accelerated simulation engine powering massive-scale robot learning pipelines.
- Write, profile, and tune performance-critical modern C++ where throughput and execution speed directly dictate training viability.
- Bridge the engine to real-world edge hardware, validating simulation fidelity against in-house humanoid and quadruped robots.
- Act as the senior technical anchor on site—setting engineering standards, unblocking complex bugs, and mentoring early-career engineers through pairing and rigorous code reviews.
What You Bring
- Deep expertise in modern C++ with a track record of shipping performance-critical, low-level systems where speed and determinism are the product.
- Direct experience building or working deep inside physics engines, game engines, or comparably complex systems close to the silicon.
- Demonstrated seniority through mentoring earlier-career engineers, levelling up the room via pairing, rigorous code reviews, and clear technical guidance.
- Comfort debating technical trade-offs openly and iterating directly alongside highly technical, code-writing founders.
- Based in or able to relocate to Cambridge, UK, to work fully on site with the lab and robotics hardware every day.
Why apply through Dex
Exceptional low-level systems roles in robotics simulation are scarce, often masked by generic game-dev or robotics listings, and run by founders with a razor-thin tolerance for superficial code. Applying through Dex cuts out cold outreach and puts your systems depth directly in front of technical decision-makers. We brief you thoroughly on the underlying architecture and the team before you ever enter the room.
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Simulation Engine Engineer (up to £110k) in Cambridge employer: Dex
At Dex, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our London-based team enjoys a hybrid working model, competitive benefits, and ample opportunities for professional growth, all while contributing to cutting-edge technology in the healthcare sector. Join us to make a meaningful impact in real-time systems and edge deployment, surrounded by a supportive team dedicated to excellence.
