Noumenal Labs · 1 month ago
Research Engineer - Thermodynamic Computing
United States
Full-time
Remote
Mid, Senior Level
$100K/yr - $150K/yrNoumenal Labs is a deep tech AI company focused on closing performance gaps in outdoor robotics. As a Research Engineer, you will shape the technical architecture and research direction for thermodynamic computing, designing and deploying hybrid computing stacks to enhance robotic intelligence and efficiency.
Computer Software
Responsibilities
Architect hybrid software–hardware systems that implement probabilistic frameworks using energy-based algorithms on thermodynamic chips
Build sampling-based inference systems (e.g., MCMC, Gibbs sampling, variational inference) optimized for thermodynamic computing substrates
Co-design algorithms jointly with hardware teams to map computation efficiently onto novel physical architectures
Deploy, evaluate, and iterate on these systems in real robotic environments
Collaborate closely with physicists, AI researchers, hardware engineers, and product teams to drive real-time adaptive computation
Contribute to publications, patents, and open-source frameworks advancing the field of physical AI and intelligent thermodynamic systems
Qualification
Required
Strong coding ability in Python and at least one ML framework (PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow)
Experience with probabilistic inference (MCMC, variational inference, or energy-based models)
Solid understanding of machine learning fundamentals — especially deep learning, Bayesian, and Maximum Entropy Inverse RL
Enthusiasm about both non-traditional hardware (e.g., neuromorphic, analog, quantum, thermodynamic) and how algorithms map to computation beyond GPUs
Interest in developing within the active inference framework
A systems mindset focused on performance, energy efficiency, and robustness
Preferred
Experience with diffusion/score-based models, or generative world models
Interest in control as inference
Robotics experience (simulators or physical robots)
Benefits
Early access to thermodynamic computing hardware.
Collaboration with leading researchers in active inference, generative modeling, and novel computing.
Real robotic platforms for prototyping and deployment.
Remote-friendly culture with periodic on-site collaboration.
Strong support for research, publication, and open-source contributions.
Salary + equity.
Company
Noumenal Labs
Noumenal Labs is a deep tech artificial intelligence company focused on solving fatal flaws in Physical AI and robotics - lack of adaptability, massive retraining costs and poor performance in the real world.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase