Senior ML Engineer (VLA & Navigation) in London

Senior ML Engineer (VLA & Navigation) in London

London Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Develop advanced spatial understanding systems for humanoid robots and integrate perception with reasoning.
  • Company: Join Humanoid, the UK's pioneering AI and robotics company creating cutting-edge humanoid robots.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 23 days annual leave, private healthcare, pension scheme, and free meals in the office.
  • Other info: Collaborate with top-tier experts in a fast-paced, research-driven environment.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of robotics, shaping the future with innovative AI solutions.
  • Qualifications: Deep experience in machine learning, scene understanding, and proficiency in PyTorch required.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

Humanoid is the first AI and robotics company in the UK, creating the world’s most advanced, reliable, commercially scalable, and safe humanoid robots. Our first humanoid robot HMND 01 is a next-gen labour automation unit, providing highly efficient services across various use cases, starting with industrial applications.

We are looking for a Senior ML Engineer (VLA & Navigation) to join our team based in London, UK.

What You'll Do

  • Develop next-generation spatial understanding systems for robot locomotion and manipulation, integrating perception and high-level reasoning.
  • Work on open-ended navigation powered by Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models — enabling robots to understand context, predict intent, and act in complex, dynamic environments.
  • Design and scale auto-labeling and large-scale data pipelines to train and evaluate multimodal models for navigation and interaction.
  • Develop and implement scene understanding and 3D reconstruction methods that give robots persistent spatial memory and geometric awareness.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional research and engineering teams to bring large vision-language models into real-world robotic systems.
  • Stay ahead of the field — rapidly evaluate new model architectures, benchmarks, and datasets to guide our embodied AI roadmap.

What We're Looking For

  • Deep experience in machine learning for vision or embodied AI, ideally with large models (VLMs, VLAs, transformers, diffusion, or multi-modal architectures).
  • Strong background in scene understanding, spatial reasoning, or 3D reconstruction from visual data.
  • Proficiency in PyTorch and hands-on experience building, fine-tuning, and deploying large-scale ML systems.
  • Strong experimental and research skills — capable of taking projects from concept to model training, evaluation, and robot integration.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-moving, research-driven environment with evolving models, data, and tools.

What We Offer

  • Meaningful time off to rest and recharge: 23 days of annual leave (accrued), separate sick leave, and paid bank holidays and company holidays.
  • Fully funded private healthcare for UK employees, with broad provider access, virtual and in‑person care, and strong mental health and serious illness support.
  • Pension scheme with a total 8% contribution (5% employee, 3% employer) on full earnings.
  • Free daily breakfast, catered lunch, and snacks in‑office.
  • Collaboration with top‑tier engineers, researchers, and product experts in AI and robotics.
  • Freedom to influence the product and own key initiatives.

Senior ML Engineer (VLA & Navigation) in London employer: Humanoid

Humanoid is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in London where innovation meets collaboration. Employees benefit from meaningful time off, comprehensive healthcare, and a strong pension scheme, all while working alongside leading experts in AI and robotics. With opportunities for personal growth and the freedom to influence product development, Humanoid fosters a culture of creativity and excellence that makes it an attractive place for those seeking impactful careers in technology.

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Contact Details:

Humanoid Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior ML Engineer (VLA & Navigation) in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with current employees at Humanoid. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised!

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects related to machine learning, especially those involving vision-language models or spatial reasoning. This will give you an edge when discussing your experience during interviews.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of PyTorch and large-scale ML systems. Practice coding challenges and be ready to discuss your past projects in detail — they want to see how you think and solve problems!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Humanoid team!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior ML Engineer (VLA & Navigation) in London

Machine Learning
Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models
Spatial Understanding
Scene Understanding
3D Reconstruction
Data Pipelines
PyTorch

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior ML Engineer role. Highlight your experience with machine learning, especially in vision and embodied AI. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!

Showcase Your Projects:Include specific projects that demonstrate your expertise in scene understanding, spatial reasoning, or 3D reconstruction. We love seeing real-world applications of your work, so don’t hold back!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Explain why you’re excited about working with us at Humanoid and how you can contribute to our mission. Keep it engaging and personal – we want to get to know you!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!

How to prepare for a job interview at Humanoid

Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your machine learning concepts, especially around vision-language models and spatial reasoning. Be ready to discuss your past projects in detail, showcasing your experience with PyTorch and large-scale ML systems.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

Prepare to tackle hypothetical scenarios related to robot navigation and scene understanding. Think about how you would approach integrating perception with high-level reasoning, and be ready to explain your thought process clearly.

Collaborate Like a Pro

Since the role involves working with cross-functional teams, highlight your teamwork experiences. Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with engineers and researchers to bring complex projects to life.

Stay Ahead of the Game

Demonstrate your passion for the field by discussing recent advancements in AI and robotics. Mention any new model architectures or datasets you've been following, and how they could influence your work at Humanoid.