Robotics Research Intern

Role: Robotics Research Intern

Type: Internship (Full-time - Stipend with performance bonus)

Domain: Humanoid Robotics — Software & Controls

About the role:

We are looking for a motivated and technically curious Robotics Research Intern to join our humanoid robotics team. In this role, you will work at the intersection of software engineering and robotics hardware, helping develop and refine the software stack that brings our humanoid robot to life. You'll gain hands-on experience with real robotic systems, contributing directly to research and development efforts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, test, and maintain software modules using ROS (Robot Operating System) for humanoid robot applications.
• Implement and tune control algorithms (e.g., joint control, motion planning, or locomotion) and integrate them with onboard hardware.
• Work closely with the hardware/electronics team to ensure seamless software-hardware interfacing — including communication with actuators, sensors, IMUs, and embedded controllers.
• Write and maintain ROS nodes, topics, services, and action servers for robot subsystems.
• Debug real-time control issues and identify bottlenecks in the software pipeline.
• Document experiments, findings, and code for reproducibility and knowledge sharing.
• Participate in team meetings, design reviews, and research discussions.

Required Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD program in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• Solid understanding of ROS / ROS 2 (nodes, topics, services, TF, launch files).
• Familiarity with robot control systems — PID, state machines, or model-based control.
• Experience with hardware interfacing — understanding of protocols such as UART, CAN, SPI, I2C, or EtherCAT.
• Proficiency in Python and/or C++ for robotics software development.
• Strong understanding of linear algebra, kinematics, and dynamics fundamentals.

Nice to Have:

• Prior experience with humanoid or legged robot platforms (e.g., ROS-based bipeds, Boston Dynamics SDK, etc.).
• Familiarity with simulation environments such as Gazebo, Isaac Sim, or MuJoCo.
• Experience with motor controllers or servo drivers (e.g., Dynamixel, ODrive, HEBI).
• Knowledge of real-time operating systems (RTOS) or embedded Linux.
• Exposure to URDF/SRDF robot modeling and MoveIt for motion planning.
• Basic experience with PCB reading or embedded firmware is a plus.
• Active membership or leadership in a college Robotics Club, Formula Student / SAE team, FSAE Electric, or any competitive car racing club — hands-on team experience in building and racing real systems is highly valued.
  

What You'll Gain:

• Direct, hands-on experience working with a real humanoid robotic platform.
• Mentorship from experienced robotics engineers and researchers.
• Exposure to the full development cycle — from algorithm design to hardware deployment.
• Opportunity to co-author technical reports or contribute to research publications.