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Summer Intern Robotics Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Summer Intern Robotics information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$9

$17

$24

How much do summer intern robotics jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for summer intern robotics in Riverside, CA is $17.18, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.05 and $18.08 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Summer Intern in Robotics, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Summer Intern in Robotics, you generally need a background in engineering or computer science, with foundational knowledge in robotics, programming, and basic electronics. Familiarity with tools such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, CAD software, and common programming languages like Python or C++ is often expected. Strong problem-solving abilities, eagerness to learn, and effective teamwork skills help interns stand out in collaborative and fast-paced environments. These skills and qualities are crucial for contributing to hands-on projects, adapting to new challenges, and maximizing the internship experience.

What does a Summer Intern in Robotics do?

A Summer Intern in Robotics typically assists with researching, designing, testing, and developing robotic systems or components under the supervision of experienced engineers. Responsibilities often include programming robots, assembling hardware, running experiments, and analyzing data. Interns may also help document their work and present findings to the team. The role is designed to provide hands-on experience and exposure to real-world robotics projects, helping students develop technical and professional skills relevant to the field.

What is the difference between Summer Intern Robotics vs Summer Intern Mechanical Engineering?

AspectSummer Intern RoboticsSummer Intern Mechanical Engineering
Required CredentialsEnrolled in Robotics, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering programsEnrolled in Mechanical Engineering or related programs
Work EnvironmentRobotics labs, automation projects, software developmentMechanical labs, design projects, manufacturing processes
Industry UsageRobotics companies, automation firms, tech startupsManufacturing, automotive, aerospace industries
Common Search/ComparisonYesYes

Summer Intern Robotics typically focuses on automation, robotics hardware, and software development, often within tech or automation companies. In contrast, Summer Intern Mechanical Engineering emphasizes mechanical design, manufacturing, and systems, usually in manufacturing or aerospace sectors. Both roles require engineering coursework but differ in their technical focus and work environment.

What types of projects and tasks can a Summer Intern in Robotics expect to work on during their internship?

As a Summer Intern in Robotics, you can expect to work on a range of hands-on and collaborative projects, such as assisting with robot assembly, testing new algorithms, data collection, and troubleshooting hardware or software issues. Interns often collaborate with engineers and researchers, gaining exposure to the entire development lifecycle—from brainstorming initial concepts to deploying prototypes. You'll likely participate in team meetings, contribute to documentation, and may even present your findings to stakeholders. This role offers practical experience and networking opportunities that can be valuable for future career growth in robotics or related fields.
What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Summer Intern Robotics jobs? Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Summer Intern Robotics job openings:
Infographic showing various Summer Intern Robotics job openings in Riverside, CA as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 12% Internship, 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $35,744 per year, or $17.2 per hour.

Robotics Research Internship-Locomotion & Planning (Summer 2026)

FieldAI

Irvine, CA

$45 - $60/hr

Other

Posted 2 days ago


Job description

About the Internship
 
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. 
 
We are offering a Summer 2026 internship focused on learning-based locomotion and planning for PhD students interested in advancing autonomous legged robot capabilities. As a research intern, you will work at the intersection of reinforcement learning, locomotion control, and learned planning, developing integrated systems that enable robots to move and navigate intelligently through complex, unstructured environments.
 
You will collaborate closely with Field AI research scientists and engineers to design experiments, develop locomotion and planning systems, and validate ideas in simulation and on real hardware. This internship emphasizes building tightly integrated learning-based systems that connect low-level locomotion with high-level planning, translating research into practical, deployable capabilities for real-world robotics.
What You'll Get To Do
  •  
Advance RL-Based Locomotion and Learned Planning Research
 
  • Design, implement, and evaluate reinforcement learning pipelines that tightly integrate locomotion control with learning-based planning.
  • Explore how learned planners can inform and adapt locomotion behaviors across varied terrain and dynamic conditions.
  • Contribute to research projects from early-stage ideas through simulation experiments and on-robot validation.
 
Bridge Locomotion and Planning Across the Sim-to-Real Gap
 
  • Develop and refine sim-to-real transfer strategies, including domain randomization, system identification, and adaptive methods, for integrated locomotion-planning systems.
  • Build and leverage GPU-accelerated simulation environments (Isaac Gym, Isaac Lab, MuJoCo) for scalable training and evaluation.
  • Test and iterate on policies using real legged robot platforms in unstructured environments.
 
Build Systems That Connect Research to Deployment
 
  • Translate research concepts into working robotic systems tested on real hardware.
  • Develop experimental setups and tooling to support data collection, evaluation, and reproducibility.
  • Help ensure locomotion and planning systems are robust, field-relevant, and ready for iterative improvement.
 
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 refine models and improve generalization.
  • Engage with researchers and engineers across the team to align experiments with broader autonomy goals.
 
Rapidly Iterate and Learn
 
  • Prototype quickly, run experiments in simulation and on hardware, and analyze results rigorously.
  • Balance exploratory research with concrete deliverables over the course of the internship.
  • Debug system-level issues spanning simulation, software, hardware, and learning.
What You Have
  • Current PhD student in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, AI/ML, or a closely related field.
  • Research experience in reinforcement learning for continuous control, locomotion, or learning-based planning.
  • Strong foundation in contact dynamics, control theory, and kinematics.
  • Proficiency in Python and/or C++, with experience using robotics or ML tooling.
  • Familiarity with physics-based simulators such as Isaac Gym, Isaac Lab, MuJoCo, or PyBullet.
  • Experience designing experiments and evaluating results on robotic systems (simulation or hardware).
  • Curiosity, initiative, and a strong interest in building autonomous systems that operate in the real world.
The Extras That Set You Apart
  • Hands-on experience with legged robot platforms (quadrupeds, wheeled-quadrupeds, bipedal systems, or exoskeletons).
  • Experience with sim-to-real transfer for locomotion or planning policies.
  • Background in learning-based planning, motion planning, or terrain-adaptive control.
  • Familiarity with ROS or ROS2.
  • Publications, preprints, or open-source contributions in locomotion, RL, planning, or control.
  • Experience deploying neural network controllers on resource-constrained or real-time robotic platforms.
  • Interest in bridging cutting-edge research with practical, field-ready robotic systems.
$45 - $60 an hour
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. 
 
Field AI Onsite Work Philosophy
 
At Field AI, we believe the most effective way to collaborate and solve complex challenges is by working together in person. This is a fully onsite role, and candidates will be expected to work from our Irvine, CA office. In-person engagement is essential to our success, and we offer flexible working hours to support focus and work-life balance.
 
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 Models 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.
 
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 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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