H-1B Visa Senior Simulation Engineer Jobs
Senior Simulation Engineer roles sit squarely within H-1B visa specialty occupation requirements, demanding a bachelor's degree or higher in mechanical, aerospace, or electrical engineering. Employers in defense, automotive, and aerospace regularly sponsor H-1B visas for this role, filing Labor Condition Applications under SOC codes tied to simulation and modeling work.
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Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.
We operate at the cutting edge of embodied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.
JOB SUMMARY
At the core of every robot policy we ship is a simulation platform that has to be fast enough for RL training, accurate enough for controls validation, and stable enough to be the team's daily driver. As Staff Simulation Engineer for Core Simulation Platform, you'll contribute to the architecture and development of that platform alongside senior team members, applying strong C++ and Python skills, robotics fundamentals, and modern simulator experience to keep the platform robust, performant, and parallel.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Contribute to the architecture and development of the core simulation platform — high-performance digital twins that serve as the foundation for policy training, controls validation, and CI/CD integration testing.
- Help build and scale cloud-native simulation pipelines capable of generating millions of experience hours per day, parallelizing physics and rendering for rapid policy iteration.
- Improve sim-to-real transfer through advanced contact models and actuator dynamics that help policies trained in simulation transfer to physical humanoid hardware.
- Develop sensor-realistic environments (camera, LiDAR, depth) that challenge the perception stack with dynamic and diverse worlds.
- Ship platform improvements that visibly reduce iteration time for RL, controls, and perception teams.
- Work with Controls, AI Research, and Perception teams to support their evolving simulation needs as the platform grows.
SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS
- Excellent C++ and/or Python programming skills
- Familiar with software development best practices: CI/CD, automated testing, and code quality standards
- Understanding of robotics concepts: kinematics, dynamics, controls, system identification
- Experience with modern robotic simulators (Isaac Lab, MuJoCo, or equivalent)
- Understanding of Reinforcement Learning with research or production experience
- Experience with large-scale training workloads — deploying parallel simulations on cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) with distributed computing frameworks (e.g., Ray, Kubernetes)
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
- Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 5+ years of experience in robotic simulation, software engineering, or related fields
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
- Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
- Hearing and speech to communicate
The annual salary range is $165,000 - $200,000.
This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.
Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
INTRODUCTION
Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.
We operate at the cutting edge of embodied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.
JOB SUMMARY
At the core of every robot policy we ship is a simulation platform that has to be fast enough for RL training, accurate enough for controls validation, and stable enough to be the team's daily driver. As Staff Simulation Engineer for Core Simulation Platform, you'll contribute to the architecture and development of that platform alongside senior team members, applying strong C++ and Python skills, robotics fundamentals, and modern simulator experience to keep the platform robust, performant, and parallel.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Contribute to the architecture and development of the core simulation platform — high-performance digital twins that serve as the foundation for policy training, controls validation, and CI/CD integration testing.
- Help build and scale cloud-native simulation pipelines capable of generating millions of experience hours per day, parallelizing physics and rendering for rapid policy iteration.
- Improve sim-to-real transfer through advanced contact models and actuator dynamics that help policies trained in simulation transfer to physical humanoid hardware.
- Develop sensor-realistic environments (camera, LiDAR, depth) that challenge the perception stack with dynamic and diverse worlds.
- Ship platform improvements that visibly reduce iteration time for RL, controls, and perception teams.
- Work with Controls, AI Research, and Perception teams to support their evolving simulation needs as the platform grows.
SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS
- Excellent C++ and/or Python programming skills
- Familiar with software development best practices: CI/CD, automated testing, and code quality standards
- Understanding of robotics concepts: kinematics, dynamics, controls, system identification
- Experience with modern robotic simulators (Isaac Lab, MuJoCo, or equivalent)
- Understanding of Reinforcement Learning with research or production experience
- Experience with large-scale training workloads — deploying parallel simulations on cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) with distributed computing frameworks (e.g., Ray, Kubernetes)
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
- Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 5+ years of experience in robotic simulation, software engineering, or related fields
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
- Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
- Hearing and speech to communicate
The annual salary range is $165,000 - $200,000.
This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.
Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Senior Simulation Engineer
Map your degree to simulation SOC codes
USCIS evaluates specialty occupation by matching your degree field to the role's SOC code. Pull the O*NET profile for your target job title to confirm the listed education requirements before applying, so your credentials align precisely with what adjudicators expect.
Target defense and aerospace primes first
Companies holding large government contracts in aerospace, defense, and automotive simulation file LCAs consistently to meet project staffing demands. Filtering by industry sector narrows your search to employers with active, recurring H-1B filing histories rather than one-off sponsorships.
Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter Senior Simulation Engineer openings by employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history. This removes roles at companies that advertise sponsorship but lack a documented DOL filing record for simulation or engineering positions.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Run your job title and work location through the OFLC Wage Search before salary discussions. Your offer must meet the DOL prevailing wage for your level, and knowing the wage tier in advance prevents you from accepting a number that fails the LCA certification threshold.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before your start date
If your H-1B transfers from OPT or a prior employer, your new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to complete I-9 verification. Confirm enrollment during the offer stage, not after you've given notice, to avoid a gap that delays your authorized start date.
Request premium processing when timelines are tight
USCIS offers premium processing for H-1B petitions, guaranteeing an action within 15 business days. If your project start date or OPT expiration leaves little buffer, ask your employer to elect premium processing at filing to avoid a status gap.
H-1B Visa Senior Simulation Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Senior Simulation Engineer roles qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Yes. USCIS consistently classifies simulation engineering as a specialty occupation because the role requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or systems engineering. The O*NET profile for simulation and modeling engineers supports this classification, and most petitions in this field clear the specialty occupation threshold without an RFE when the degree field closely matches the job duties.
Which industries sponsor H-1B visas most frequently for simulation engineers?
Defense contractors, automotive OEMs, aerospace manufacturers, and semiconductor companies file the highest volume of LCAs for simulation engineering roles. These industries run large-scale modeling and simulation programs that require sustained staffing, making them more likely to maintain active H-1B sponsorship pipelines. Use Migrate Mate to browse Senior Simulation Engineer openings filtered by employers with verified LCA filing history in these sectors.
How does the H-1B cap lottery affect hiring timelines for simulation engineers?
Most simulation engineers targeting private-sector employers are subject to the standard H-1B cap of 65,000 regular slots plus 20,000 for U.S. master's degree holders. USCIS opens registration in March each year, with a lottery if registrations exceed the cap. If you're selected, employment can't begin before October 1. Some simulation roles at universities or non-profit research labs are cap-exempt, allowing year-round filing with no lottery.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new simulation engineering employer mid-project?
Yes, H-1B portability under AC21 lets you start working for a new employer as soon as the transfer petition is filed with USCIS, without waiting for approval, provided your original petition was approved and you've maintained valid status. Your new employer must file a new I-129 and LCA before your first day. Confirm the new employer's E-Verify enrollment and ensure the new role still qualifies as a specialty occupation under your degree field.
What happens to my H-1B status if my simulation project ends and I'm between contracts?
H-1B status is employer-specific, so losing the role tied to your petition puts you in a 60-day grace period to find a new sponsoring employer, change status, or depart the U.S. Your employer must file an I-129 transfer petition before the grace period expires to maintain your authorization. Defense and aerospace simulation roles can have contract-driven gaps, so lining up your next opportunity before project close reduces the risk of a status lapse.