Lab Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Join our Frontier AI & Robotics team to support the hardware integration of next-generation robotic systems that will transform how robots perceive and interact with the world. You'll take ownership of hands-on hardware assembly, software integration, and system validation tasks across advanced actuators, precision sensors, and robotic subsystems - ensuring they work seamlessly together to support breakthrough AI research and real-world deployment.
Key job responsibilities
- Assembly, Integration & DFx - Assemble and integrate robotic hardware (actuators, sensors, vision systems, machined components).

Execute assembly processes and test protocols developed with engineering. Provide DFM/DFA feedback and perform simple mechanical/electrical/software design tasks; support integration/debug and partner with engineers to optimize manufacturability and testability.
- R&D Prototype Test & Validation - Validate hardware revisions, verify mechanical assemblies, power sequencing, communication interfaces, and peripherals during bring-up.

- Debugging & Failure Analysis - Troubleshoot and root-cause issues across the robotic platform (power, compute, comms, actuators, sensors). Conduct failure analysis from component to system level. Reproduce critical failures, interpret schematics, and bridge communication between the lab and engineering teams.

- Technical Documentation - Author and maintain runbooks, failure analysis reports, assembly guides, and troubleshooting guides; uphold consistent documentation standards across the lab.
- Mechanical Design Support - Perform simple R&D design tasks and test fixture design in CAD, ensuring quality and alignment with engineering priorities.
- Lab Operations Support - Support machine shop capabilities, equipment maintenance, inventory management, vendor coordination, and safety/regulatory compliance.

- Test Capability Development - Develop test methodologies, design jigs/fixtures, support hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, and streamline failure-to-resolution workflows.
A day in the life
Your focus centers on the hardware and software that powers our advanced robotic platforms. You'll execute high degree-of-freedom (DoF) robotic prototype assembly and validation, working alongside engineers and fellow technicians.

Your responsibilities include building, debugging, validating prototype, performing critical component and assembly quality assessments, providing DFM/DFA feedback to engineers, and designing test jigs and fixtures.
Throughout the day, you balance complex assemblies and integration testing while handling urgent prototyping requests, documentation updates, and preparation for upcoming milestones. You're switching between working at the bench, collaborating in design reviews with engineers, and ensuring lab safety and equipment maintenance.

About the team
At Frontier AI & Robotics, we're not just advancing robotics - we're reimagining it from the ground up. Our team is building the future of intelligent robotics through frontier foundation models and end-to-end learned systems. We tackle some of the most challenging problems in AI and robotics, from developing sophisticated perception systems to creating adaptive manipulation strategies that work in complex, real-world scenarios.
What sets us apart is our unique combination of ambitious research vision and practical impact

We leverage Amazon's computational infrastructure and rich real-world datasets to train and deploy state-of-the-art foundation models. Our work spans the full spectrum of robotics intelligence - from multimodal perception using images, videos, and sensor data, to sophisticated manipulation strategies that can handle diverse real-world scenarios. We're building systems that don't just work in the lab, but scale to meet the demands of Amazon's global operations.
Join us if you're excited about pushing the boundaries of what's possible in robotics, working with world-class researchers, and seeing your innovations deployed at unprecedented scale