Robotics Hardware Engineer, Large Behavior Models

Full-time

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 in Automated Driving, Energy & Materials, Human-Centered AI, Human Interactive Driving, Large Behavior Models, and Robotics.

The Mission

Make general-purpose robots a reality.

The Challenge

We envision a future where robots assist with household chores and cooking, aid the older population in maintaining their independence, and enable people to spend more time on the activities they enjoy most. To achieve this, robots need to be able to operate reliably in messy, unstructured environments. Our mission is to answer the question “What will it take to create truly general-purpose robots that can accomplish a wide variety of tasks in settings like human homes with minimal human supervision?”. We believe that the answer lies in cultivating large-scale datasets of physical interaction from a variety of sources and building on the latest advances in machine learning to learn general-purpose robot behaviors from this data.

Robotics

The mission of TRI Robotics is to invent and prove new robotic capabilities required to enable home robots to solve the challenges faced by an aging society. As part of that mission, we are developing a sophisticated suite of open-source robotics software called Drake (https://drake.mit.edu (https://drake.mit.edu/)) for use in our internal robotics projects and the wider community of advanced robotics researchers.

The Team

Join Toyota Research Institute’s LBM-C division to change the world by creating and shipping useful general-purpose AI-driven robots. Within this division, the hardware team's mission is to build a highly scalable fleet of robots capable of performing the same general mobile manipulation tasks as humans, in human-like ways and at human-like speeds, via shared autonomy. Help turn cutting-edge R&D into deployed products!

The Opportunity

This role will support the electromechanical design, manufacturing, and testing of custom robotic hardware. In particular, it is responsible for building complex, multi-degree-of-freedom assemblies with structural components, actuators, sensors, and cabling while considering cost, reliability, maintainability, performance, and ultimately scalability.

Responsibilities

Mechanical design: Design multi-degree-of-freedom electromechanical assemblies and test fixtures and environments; generate rough and detailed CAD, FEA analysis, and clear drawings with GD&T; and specify materials and fabrication processes.

Actuation, Sensing, and Power: Design and build drivetrains (e.g., motors, gearboxes, belts, bearings), select and integrate sensors (encoders, torque sensors, cameras, etc), and power and communication cabling.

Ownership: Follow what you build through its lifecycle, including fit/finish debugging, tolerance stack checks, failure analysis, continuous improvement, and engaging with end users.

Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Experimentation: Build and test ideas quickly using 3D printers, waterjet, CNCs, and rapid fabrication services. Design instrumented lab experiments and test rigs, log and analyze data, and feed results back into designs.

Develop the Team: Help develop our growing team through mentorship, leading by example, building consensus and culture, and contributing to work planning and milestone definitions. You’ll work with and through others.

Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Partner with Software, AI, Product, and Deployment teams to move from prototype to production.

Manage External Hardware Contracts: For projects that we can not staff internally, clearly scope and guide external resources collaboratively and communicatively.

Requirements

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or related field.

3+ years of industry experience

Experience with robotic manipulation and/or mobile robot applications.

Proficiency with CAD tools (SolidWorks/Onshape) and drawing standards (GD&T, tolerances, fits).

Comfortable in the shop: basic machining, tapping, threading, and rapid fabrication tools.

Proficiency with mechatronics (actuators, sensors, wiring, cable routing) and practical DFM/DFS instincts.

Clear communication, meticulous documentation, and a bias for fast iteration.

A great collaborator who can take the lead on relationships with adjacent and external teams.

Bonus Qualifications

Experience with tendon and/or back-drivable actuation.

MATLAB/Python for creating scripts and analyzing data.

Exposure to PLM/version control

Bringing assemblies from research prototypes to low-volume production.

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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.

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