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Robotics Research Intern Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Applied Intution

In addition to your research contributions, you will contribute to and learn from best practices in the autonomy and robotics industries within our fast-paced and customer-focused culture.

DYNA Robotics Inc

Research Internship

Redwood City, CA · On-site

While we have a very limited number of intern opportunities, we welcome applications in particular for research-focused internships at all levels. At Dyna Robotics , we build technology for the real ...

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Robotics Research Intern information

What does a robotics research intern do?

A Robotics Research Intern assists with the development and testing of robotic systems, working under the guidance of experienced engineers or researchers. Their tasks often include programming robots, running experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and documenting results. Interns may also contribute to research papers and presentations, depending on the project. This role provides hands-on experience with cutting-edge robotics technology and helps interns build foundational skills for a career in robotics.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a robotics research intern?

To thrive as a Robotics Research Intern, you need a solid background in robotics, computer science, or engineering, with coursework or experience in algorithms, control systems, and programming (often at least a bachelor's level in progress). Familiarity with technical tools like ROS (Robot Operating System), simulation environments (e.g., Gazebo, MATLAB), and coding languages such as Python or C++ is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication skills help interns contribute meaningfully to collaborative research projects. These skills and qualities are crucial for innovating and advancing robotics solutions in both academic and industry settings.

What types of projects or responsibilities can a robotics research intern expect during their internship?

As a Robotics Research Intern, you can expect to work on a variety of hands-on and collaborative projects, such as developing algorithms for robot perception, assisting in hardware integration, or running experiments to validate robotic systems. Interns often contribute to ongoing research efforts, participate in team meetings, and sometimes co-author research papers. The work environment is typically fast-paced and supportive, with mentorship from experienced researchers and engineers. You'll also have opportunities to present your findings, gain exposure to cutting-edge robotics technology, and network with professionals in the field.

What is the difference between Robotics Research Intern vs Robotics Engineer?

AspectRobotics Research InternRobotics Engineer
CredentialsTypically pursuing or holding a degree in robotics, engineering, or related fieldsBachelor's or master's degree in robotics, mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academic institutions, or corporate R&D departmentsDesign, develop, and implement robotic systems in industrial, commercial, or research settings
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutions, tech companiesManufacturers, tech firms, automation companies

Robotics Research Interns focus on supporting research projects, gaining hands-on experience, and exploring new technologies. Robotics Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining robotic systems, often leading projects and applying engineering principles. While both roles require a background in robotics, interns typically have less experience and work under supervision, whereas engineers hold more advanced responsibilities and often have full-time positions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Robotics Research jobs in California?

The most popular types of Robotics Research jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Robotics Research Intern jobs?

Cities in California with the most Robotics Research Intern job openings:

Robotics Research Intern jobs near you
Infographic showing various Robotics Research Intern job openings in California as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Internship, and 20% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Robotics Research Intern - Post-Training

Los Altos, CA • On-site

Toyota Research Institute
Scientific Research and Development Services • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Toyota Research Instituteexternal

$45 - $65/hr

Internship

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we're on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We're developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience. To lead this transformative shift in mobility, we've built a world-class team advancing the state of the art in AI, robotics, driving, and material sciences.
This is a paid 12-week internship opportunity and is a hybrid, in-office role.
Here's a glimpse into the Internship experience from some of our TRI interns!
Qualifications
  • Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related field.
  • Research experience in robot learning, reinforcement learning, imitation learning, generative modeling, world models, or a related area.
  • Interest in open research problems involving large-scale machine learning grounded in physical systems.
  • Proficiency in Python and a deep-learning framework such as PyTorch.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with researchers and engineers and communicate research findings clearly.

Bonus Qualifications
  • Experience with pretrained generalist policies, foundation models, or large-scale robot-learning systems.
  • Familiarity with offline or online reinforcement learning, DAgger, interactive learning, or human-in-the-loop methods.
  • Experience with simulation, sim-to-real transfer, policy distillation, or robotic manipulation.
  • Experience with learned world models, model-based reinforcement learning, or planning.
  • Publication record or interest in publishing at leading venues such as CoRL, NeurIPS, ICLR, ICML, RSS, ICRA, IROS, or related conferences and journals.
  • Interest in translating fundamental research into reliable methods that can be evaluated on real robotic systems and practical downstream tasks.

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $45 and $65/hour for California-based roles. Base pay offered will depend on multiple individualized factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's experience, skills, job-related knowledge, and market location. TRI offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, and paid time off benefits (including holiday pay and sick time). Additional details regarding these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
Please reference this Candidate Privacy Notice to inform you of the categories of personal information that we collect from individuals who inquire about and/or apply to work for Toyota Research Institute, Inc. or its subsidiaries, including Toyota A.I. Ventures GP, L.P., and the purposes for which we use such personal information.
TRI is fueled by a diverse and inclusive community of people with unique backgrounds, education and life experiences. We are dedicated to fostering an innovative and collaborative environment by living the values that are an essential part of our culture. We believe diversity makes us stronger and are proud to provide Equal Employment Opportunity for all, without regard to an applicant's race, color, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, religion, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state or local laws.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. 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.

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