- Sowmiya Sri Mani

UBTech Robotics offers up to $18M salary to hire a Chief Scientist of Embodied Intelligence, highlighting one of the most competitive AI scientist salary offers in the industry.

UBTech Robotics, a leading international AI and humanoid robotics company based in Shenzhen, China, has announced that it is willing to pay up to 124 million yuan ($18 million) annually to hire a top-tier chief scientist for embodied intelligence, highlighting one of the most competitive AI scientist salary offers in the industry.

The exclusive position is titled as “Chief Scientist of Embodied Intelligence”. The company stated that the new chief scientist is a game-breaker in the humanoid robot industry and "the helmsman of UBTECH's technical path." The technology roadmap for humanoid robots and embodied intelligence at UBTECH will be strategized by this scientist. According to the company's statement, this role includes advanced research on vision-language-action models, fundamental robot models, and expert skill learning.

The new chief scientist will accelerate the usage of humanoid robots in smart manufacturing, commercial services, and even family companionship by bringing cutting-edge technology from the lab to real world scenarios. Although UBTech is receiving the most attention, other companies are also hiring. Due to significant appearances at China's Spring Festival Gala and the CES tech expo, the humanoid robot industry has increased in 2026.

In January, Airbus acquired Walker S2 humanoids from UBTech for use in aircraft manufacturing facilities, demonstrating that these robots function in actual industrial settings rather than merely controlled demonstrations. This practical use validates the technique outside of the lab.

This skill acquisition is crucial for UBTech's survival given the intense competition it challenges from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Tesla's humanoid aspirations. In the most serious effort to date in the global AI talent competition, it becomes the first listed humanoid robotics business in China to disclose an enormous compensation package for chief AI scientist salary, according to Business Fortune. UBTech is placing all of its bets on embodied intelligence, while tech companies often save these packages for CEOs.

About the Author

Sowmiya Sri Mani is a writer for Business Fortune, covering AI, Robotics, Software, Entrepreneurship, and Opinion. She delivers clear and engaging insights on emerging trends and industrial developments, helping readers understand the evolving landscape of technology and innovation.