At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a cutting-edge AI lab to revolutionise robotics and machine learning.
- Company: Odyssey, an innovative AI lab with a world-class research team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work in-person in vibrant locations like Zurich, London, or the Bay Area.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI technology and make a real impact in various industries.
- Qualifications: PhD or equivalent experience in ML, with hands-on expertise in diffusion models and robotics.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Who We Are
Odyssey is an AI lab pioneering general world models: causal, multimodal systems that learn to predict and interact with the world over long horizons.
This foundational technology promises to revolutionize robotics, science, healthcare, education, gaming, defense, and beyond.
Odyssey’s founders previously pioneered the most complex application of physical AI: self-driving cars.
They’ve now brought together a world‑class research team from Deep Mind, Tesla, Waymo, Meta, Apple, and Wayve, who have made significant contributions to language models (Deep Mind Gemini), video models (Deep Mind Veo), world models (Wayve GAIA), and autonomous systems (Tesla FSD).
Odyssey has raised significant venture capital from GV, Amazon, AMD, EQT, NVIDIA, Natural Capital, In‑Q‑Tel, Elad Gil, Jeff Dean, Guillermo Rauch, Garry Tan, Kyle Vogt, and researchers from Open AI, Deep Mind, MSL, Recursive, and Thinking Machines.
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for people with a deep interest in improving machine learning algorithms at the intersection of diffusion world models and robotics.
Interactive, action‑conditioned world models are a cutting‑edge research area that is not yet mature.
You will be working at the cusp of what’s possible, using world models as simulators, feature extractors, and training grounds for real robot policies and model‑based RL approaches.
Most new experiments here will fail; your focus will be on maximally learning from failed experiments to increase the chances of eventual success on real hardware.
- What You’ll Do
- Learn what makes interactive world models tick. How data, diffusion backbones, action conditioning, and downstream policies interact.
- Implement state‑of‑the‑art diffusion and robot‑learning algorithms, and design losses, reward functions, and reinforcement/preference‑based fine‑tuning for interactivity and policy performance.
- Run a high cadence of ablations across WM and policy, from architecture and feature taps to data mixes and conditioning schemes.
- Build the bridge to real robots: data pipelines, WM fine‑tuning, and policy deployment onto Robots‑aa S and design partner systems (remote and face‑to‑face).
- Exploit the latest features on modern GPUs to increase training and inference efficiency.
- Take ownership of the full ML stack, including core frameworks that Odyssey researchers and product engineers rely on.
Who You Are
- A Ph D (or equivalent research experience) plus 2+ years of relevant research or engineering experience, or 4+ years of software engineering experience with 2+ years of relevant ML work.
- Significant hands‑on experience with one or more of: diffusion models, world models, model‑based RL (e. g. Dreamer lineage), or vision‑language‑action (VLA) policies.
- Track record of owning projects end to end.
- Not shy to touch any stage of an ML pipeline, from data to real‑robot deployment; sim‑to‑real experience is a strong plus.
- Proficiency with Py Torch (or TF/JAX).
- Highly experiment‑driven.
- Flexible to work in‑person in Zurich, London, or the Bay Area. Most of the team works in‑person in Zurich at the moment.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Member of Technical Staff, Diffusion World Models & Robotics employer: Odyssey
At Odyssey, we pride ourselves on being an innovative AI lab that fosters a collaborative and intellectually stimulating work environment. Our culture encourages autonomy and deep thinking, allowing researchers to explore groundbreaking ideas in generative media while contributing to the scientific community. Located in London, we offer unique opportunities for professional growth and the chance to be at the forefront of redefining interactive video technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Member of Technical Staff, Diffusion World Models & Robotics
✨Dive into Robotics Meetups
Get yourself out there and connect with others in the robotics-automation field by attending local meetups and industry events. These gatherings are where the magic happens, and you might just rub shoulders with someone from Odyssey or get insider tips on upcoming vacancies.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Create a portfolio that highlights your robotics projects, whether they're personal, academic, or freelance. Share this on platforms like GitHub or your personal website, as it shows potential employers, like Odyssey, what you're made of and your hands-on experience in the field.
✨Utilise University Resources
If you're fresh out of university or still connected, don't underestimate your career services. They often have exclusive access to job fairs and employer networking events in technical fields like ours, so make sure you tap into those resources to discover openings at companies like Odyssey.
✨Engage in Online Communities
Join online communities that focus on robotics and automation, such as forums or LinkedIn groups. Engage in conversations, ask questions, and share insights. This not only builds your visibility but could also lead to direct connections at firms like Odyssey, which might have the full-time role you're after.
We think you need these skills to ace Member of Technical Staff, Diffusion World Models & Robotics
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the robotics and automation field, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills on your CV. Include specific programming languages, software platforms, and any relevant robotics experience. Don’t forget to mention any projects or systems you've developed – this info can really make you stand out!
Portfolio Perfection:Having a polished portfolio can speak volumes for a role in robotics. Include any relevant case studies, designs, or prototypes you've worked on. If you've participated in competitions or hackathons, showcase these achievements as well – they show initiative and problem-solving skills!
Tailored Cover Letter Magic:In your cover letter, don’t just tell us that you love robotics—tell us why you’re passionate about automation specifically! Explain how your skills can contribute to Odyssey’s projects and remember to connect your past experiences to what you'll be doing in this role.
Certifications Matter:If you’ve got any relevant certifications, such as in robotic process automation or machine learning, make sure they’re front and centre on your CV. These credentials show you're dedicated to your field and keep you up to date with industry standards – we love to see that!
How to prepare for a job interview at Odyssey
✨Showcase Your Technical Wizardry
For a role in robotics and automation at Odyssey, it's crucial to demonstrate your technical skills. Be prepared to dive into specifics about the programming languages and tools you’ve used, like Python or ROS (Robot Operating System). Brush up on your knowledge of algorithms and control systems, as these might come up during technical questions.
✨Bring Your Projects to Life
With a full-time position in robotics, you should have a portfolio of your projects ready to show. Whether it's a robot you built for a competition or a simple automation script, make sure you can discuss the challenges you faced and how you solved them. This hands-on experience is gold and shows you can apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios.
✨Think Like an Engineer
Expect some problem-solving scenarios during your interview. You might be asked to design a basic automation solution on the spot or troubleshoot a robotic system. Practising these types of technical questions can really set you apart, as they require critical thinking and a systematic approach to tackle problems.
✨Culture Fit Is Key!
Don’t underestimate the importance of cultural fit at Odyssey. They might ask about your teamwork experience and how you handle challenges with peers. Be ready to share examples of working in diverse teams, as collaboration is often central to projects in robotics and automation.
