Robotics Lab Support Engineer

Aquent, a leading talent solutions partner, is excited to support a global innovator in delivering the future of manufacturing. This client is at the forefront of developing groundbreaking physical AI systems capable of autonomously manipulating thousands of parts across expansive operational networks. Their pioneering Robotics AI organization stands at the dynamic intersection of cutting-edge AI research, advanced robotics engineering, robust data infrastructure, and global manufacturing imperatives. Through this work, they are building high-reliability testing environments crucial for advancing next-generation manipulation policies.

Are you ready to be the linchpin that accelerates the future of robotics and AI in manufacturing? We are seeking a highly motivated and hands-on engineer to join a pioneering team dedicated to revolutionizing how physical AI systems operate. In this pivotal role, you will be the vital bridge connecting software deployment, mechanical fabrication, sensor integration, teleoperation, and daily laboratory operations. Your expertise will directly ensure that a state-of-the-art robotics laboratory runs with unparalleled efficiency, safety, and repeatability, enabling breakthrough innovations that impact global production lines. You will empower multidisciplinary teams of researchers and engineers, directly contributing to the advancement of intelligent robotic systems. This is more than a support role; it's an opportunity to drive progress, troubleshoot challenges, and meticulously build the foundations for AI that interacts with the physical world, making a tangible impact on the future of automation.

What You Will Do

As a core member of the team, you will ensure our robotics laboratory environment is a well-oiled machine, fostering rapid iteration and reliable experimentation. Your day-to-day will involve a diverse range of critical activities:

• Oversee the daily readiness of robotics workstations, sensor packages, computer systems, power infrastructure, and safety protocols for ongoing experiments and evaluations.
• Rapidly diagnose and resolve basic hardware, power, signal, or network connectivity issues, managing seamless setup changes between experimental runs.
• Coordinate essential logistics with facilities and security teams, including room utilization, power requirements, storage solutions, equipment receiving, and access control.
• Manage comprehensive inventory of experimental components, handling vendor relationships for ordering, shipping, warranty claims, service, and returns.
• Uphold the highest standards of safety by meticulously maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs), test notes, issue logs, and thorough documentation.
• Execute hands-on teleoperation and structured data collection using specialized interfaces and custom rigs for tasks ranging from precision pick-and-place to complex assembly sequences.
• Ensure the integrity of data through structured capture, meticulous annotation, comprehensive quality checks, and dataset cleaning for advanced imitation learning models.
• Support rigorous policy evaluations on physical hardware, meticulously logging failure modes, tracking operational metrics, and synthesizing evaluation summaries.
• Design and fabricate custom camera mounts, brackets, fixtures, and hardware modifications using CAD software, advanced 3D printing (FDM/SLA), and workshop tools.
• Conduct precise camera calibration, sensor synchronization, coordinate frame setups, and capture high-quality stereo/RGB-D datasets under controlled visual and lighting conditions.
• Iterate and refine physical components to enhance rigidity, spatial positioning, usability, and the overall repeatability of experiments.
• Navigate Ubuntu/Linux terminal environments with ease, utilizing Git, Bash, and Python scripts for running test routines, parsing logs, and data inspection.
• Facilitate basic ROS 2 workflows and execute deployment SOPs to flash and run software and models on robotic hardware.
• Configure and validate simulation environments, including tools like NVIDIA Isaac Sim, to support robust sim-to-real development workflows.

Required Skills & Experience

• Educational foundation or equivalent practical experience in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Science, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated expertise in maintaining sophisticated robotics laboratory environments, including adherence to safety SOPs, inventory management, and ensuring hardware readiness.
• Proven practical experience with teleoperation setups, structured dataset collection, and quality control methodologies for robotic manipulation tasks.
• Hands-on proficiency in CAD modeling, 3D printing, and mechanical prototyping techniques to fabricate custom mounts, brackets, and test rigs.
• Experience with camera calibration, coordinate frame transformations, and processing RGB-D or stereo-camera datasets.
• Strong operational proficiency within Ubuntu/Linux terminal environments, coupled with working knowledge of Python, Bash scripting, Git, and introductory ROS 2 workflows.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• A foundational understanding of imitation learning principles, computer vision pipelines, and the structure of robotics training datasets.
• Familiarity with prominent robotics simulation tools such as NVIDIA Isaac Sim and Gazebo.
• Practical experience managing external vendors, procurement processes, and collaborating with facilities management in industrial or research environments.
• Experience with basic electrical prototyping, wire harness assembly, and troubleshooting connectivity issues.

What You Bring

• You are the quintessential "Hands-On Fixer," equally comfortable moving between CAD design, utilizing power tools, navigating Linux terminals, and operating robot arms to solve complex problems.
• You embody the "Methodical Operator," understanding that the development of exceptional AI models hinges on disciplined, repeatable physical experiment setups, impeccably clean datasets, and strict adherence to SOPs.
• You are a "Cross-Functional Facilitator," possessing outstanding communication skills to effectively collaborate with software engineers, AI researchers, facilities staff, and external vendors, consistently minimizing downtime and ensuring experiments progress without interruption.