About the role#
As a Robotics Engineer Intern, you will work at the intersection of hardware and software to design and tune control systems for actuated subsystems. You will own the systems that make robots move, respond, and feel intentional. This role involves working across the full mechatronic stack, from low-level motor control and sensor fusion to high-level behaviors, while collaborating with the founding team to translate intent into expressive motion.
What you'll do#
- Design and tune control systems for actuated subsystems, including motion control, feedback, and dynamic response.
- Integrate actuators, sensors, encoders, and embedded electronics into reliable mechatronic assemblies.
- Develop control algorithms in C++ or Python, moving from simulation through to deployment on hardware.
- Build and maintain URDF models and simulation environments that align with the physical platform.
- Diagnose real-world control issues such as instability, backlash, latency, drift, and sensor noise.
- Collaborate with animators, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers on actuator selection, sensing strategy, and motion fine-tuning.
- Develop motion primitives and expressive behaviors that shape robot movement.
- Maintain documentation of control architecture and tuning decisions as the system evolves.
What you'll need#
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Software Engineering, or Computer Science.
- Hands-on experience tuning control systems on real robotic hardware.
- Proficiency in C++ or Python for robotics or embedded control work.
- Experience with ROS or ROS2 and real-time robotics software stacks.
- Experience building URDF models and working with simulators such as Gazebo, MuJoCo, or Isaac Sim.
- Experience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks or Onshape.
- Familiarity with actuators, motor drivers, encoders, and IMUs.
- Strong hardware debugging skills using tools like oscilloscopes and signal tracing.
- Experience with impedance control, torque control, or whole-body control on physical robots.
- Experience with sensor fusion, state estimation, or Kalman filtering.
- Embedded programming experience on microcontrollers or DSPs.
- Experience shaping expressive or character-driven robot motion.
Location & details#
- Location: San Francisco, California.
- Work Modality: Remote and Hybrid options available.
- Employment Type: Full-time intern.
- Term: Rolling.
About Human Computer Lab
Human Computer Lab is a research and experimentation facility based in San Francisco. It operates as a privately held entity with a team of eight employees. The organization focuses on the study of human-computer interaction.
How to get in at Human Computer Lab
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