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Robot Programmer Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Welding Robot Operator

Riverside, CA ยท On-site

$18 - $22/hr

Set up robotic programmable arc welding machines; use rotating positions with multiple fixtures. Load, secure, align, weld and unload workpieces. Edit pre-programmed data in the memory file to ensure ...

We're looking for a Senior Robotics Perception Engineer to own and advance perception capabilities for our federal autonomy programs. In this role, you will lead development of the perception stack ...

Senior Robot Perception Engineer

Irvine, CA ยท On-site +1

$70K - $300K/yr

We're looking for a Senior Robotics Perception Engineer to own and advance perception capabilities for our federal autonomy programs. In this role, you will lead development of the perception stack ...

Senior Robot Perception Engineer

Irvine, CA ยท Remote

$70K - $300K/yr

We're looking for a Senior Robotics Perception Engineer to own and advance perception capabilities for our federal autonomy programs. In this role, you will lead development of the perception stack ...

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Robot Programmer information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$17

$38

$55

How much do robot programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for robot programmer in Riverside, CA is $38.48, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $31.83 and $45.14 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does a Robot Programmer Do?

The job duties of a robot programmer include working to write, test, and modify programs that direct the actions of robotic equipment. As a robot programmer, your responsibilities typically consist of using robotic software to create directions for manufacturing or industrial applications. You analyze drawings, blueprints, and manufacturing or assembly requirements before programming the equipment. You may also need to physically set up and place the robot in the workspace, test your program before beginning work, and monitor progress to ensure quality during the production run or another process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Robot Programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Robot Programmer, you need strong programming skills (such as in Python, C++, or proprietary robot languages), a solid understanding of robotics engineering, and typically a degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with robotic control systems, industrial automation software (like ROS or PLCs), and relevant certifications are often required. Analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills for optimizing robotic performance and collaborating with engineering teams. These skills ensure the development, integration, and maintenance of efficient, reliable robotic systems in various industrial applications.

What are some common challenges Robot Programmers face when integrating new robots into existing manufacturing systems?

Robot Programmers often encounter challenges such as ensuring compatibility between new robots and legacy equipment, optimizing robot paths for efficiency, and minimizing downtime during integration. Coordinating closely with engineers, operators, and IT specialists is essential to address communication protocols, safety requirements, and production schedules. Adapting to rapidly evolving technologies and troubleshooting unexpected issues are also key aspects of the role, making strong problem-solving skills and teamwork crucial for success.

What is the difference between Robot Programmer vs Robot Technician?

AspectRobot ProgrammerRobot Technician
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in robotics, engineering, or computer scienceOften requires technical diploma or associate degree in robotics or electronics
Work EnvironmentDesigning, coding, and testing robot programs in labs or manufacturing settingsMaintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing robots on the production floor
Employer & Industry UsageUsed mainly in automation, manufacturing, and robotics developmentCommon in manufacturing plants, assembly lines, and maintenance services

Robot Programmers focus on creating and optimizing robot software, while Robot Technicians handle the installation, maintenance, and repair of robotic systems. Both roles are essential in automation industries but differ in their primary responsibilities and required skills.

What are popular job titles related to Robot Programmer jobs in Riverside, CA? For Robot Programmer jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Robot Programmer jobs in Riverside, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Robot Programmer jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Robot Programmer jobs? Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Robot Programmer job openings:
Infographic showing various Robot Programmer job openings in Riverside, CA as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $80,031 per year, or $38.5 per hour.

1.51 Robotics Autonomy Engineer - Locomotion

FieldAI

Irvine, CA โ€ข On-site

$70K - $300K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk-aware, reliable, and field-ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-based architectures, and are charting a new course, with already-globally-deployed solutions delivering real-world results and rapidly improving models through real-field applications.
About the Job:
Field AI is building the future of autonomy-from rugged terrain to real-world deployment. We're on a mission to develop intelligent, adaptable robotic systems that operate beyond simulation and thrive in unpredictable environments. As our Robotics Autonomy Engineer - Locomotion, you'll lead the development and deployment of state-of-the-art reinforcement learning-based controllers for legged and humanoid robots. You'll be part of a deeply technical team advancing real-world robotic capabilities through cutting-edge research, simulation tools, and field validation.If designing locomotion systems that can navigate complex, dynamic environments excites you, and you want to work where your code hits the ground (literally)-this is your role. This is Field AI.
What You'll Get To Do
1. Design and Own RL-Based Locomotion Pipelines
  • Architect and implement scalable reinforcement learning (RL) pipelines optimized for locomotion and manipulation.
  • Integrate physics-based simulation environments (Isaac Gym, Isaac Lab, MuJoCo) with custom training workflows.
  • Develop reward functions, policy architectures, and domain randomization strategies that close the sim-to-real gap.

2. Deploy Locomotion Behaviors on Physical Robots
  • Create agile, robust locomotion behaviors for quadruped and humanoid platforms, and validate them on real hardware.
  • Solve real-world challenges in balance, contact-rich dynamics, high-DOF coordination, and terrain variability.
  • Drive iterative testing across terrain variability and unstructured environments.

3. Build and Scale Simulation Infrastructure
  • Build scalable training environments using GPU-accelerated simulators.
  • Automate evaluation across domain-randomized scenarios and domain adaptation protocols.
  • Maintain simulation infrastructure that enables rapid prototyping, validation, and reproducibility.

4. Collaborate Across the Full Robotics Stack
  • Work closely with systems engineers, perception experts, and embedded teams to close the loop between learning and execution.
  • Incorporate real-world telemetry and field data to continuously improve model generalization.
  • Lead deployment workflows from experiment through lab testing to field robot validation.

What You Have
  • Master's degree or higher in Robotics, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (PhD strongly preferred).
  • Deep expertise in reinforcement learning for continuous control.
  • 2+ years of experience developing and deploying locomotion policies on real robotic systems.
  • Hands-on experience with legged robot platforms (quadrupeds, bipedal systems, or exoskeletons).
  • Proficiency with simulation tools such as Isaac Gym, Isaac Lab, MuJoCo, or PyBullet.
  • Strong command of sim-to-real transfer - domain randomization, system identification, adaptive methods, and a track record of bridging the gap successfully.
  • Solid understanding of contact dynamics, control theory, and kinematics.
  • Strong Python and/or C++ development skills in Linux-based development environments.
  • Familiarity with machine learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow).
  • A passion for building things that move in the real world.

The Extras That Set You Apart
  • 3+ years of experience in an industry or startup robotics setting.
  • Experience deploying neural network controllers on resource-constrained robotic platforms (real-time inference, onboard compute).
  • Publications or open-source contributions in locomotion, RL, or control.
  • Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 or custom middleware for real-time control.
  • Background in manipulation, loco-manipulation, or whole-body coordination.
  • Experience debugging sim-to-real issues at scale.
  • Contributions to reinforcement learning libraries or simulation platforms.
  • Prior work on multi-agent learning or terrain-adaptive control systems.

$70,000 - $300,000 a year
Our salary range is generous and we take into consideration an individual's background and experience in determining final salary; base pay offered may vary considerably depending on geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Why Join Field AI?
We are solving one of the world's most complex challenges: deploying robots in unstructured, previously unknown environments. Our Field Foundational Modelsโ„ข set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring our approach is explainable and safe for deployment.
You will have the opportunity to work with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. With a decade-long track record of deploying solutions in the field, winning DARPA challenge segments, and bringing expertise from organizations like DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self-Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, we are set to achieve our ambitious goals.
Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution
To tackle such ambitious challenges, we need a team as unique as our vision - innovators who go beyond conventional methods and are eager to tackle tough, uncharted questions. We're seeking individuals who challenge the status quo, dive into uncharted territory, and bring interdisciplinary expertise. Our team requires not only top AI talent but also exceptional software developers, engineers, product designers, field deployment experts, and communicators.
We are headquartered in always-sunny Mission Viejo (Irvine adjacent), Southern California and have US based and global teammates.
Join us, shape the future, and be part of a fun, close-knit team on an exciting journey!
We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.