Robotics Research Assistant

Artificial Analysis, Inc.•San Francisco, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Artificial Analysis is developing robotics benchmarks to evaluate how AI models perform on physical robots and in simulation, and to help the industry understand those results. The Robotics Research Assistant works closely with robotics researchers and engineers to run benchmarks and keep robots built, calibrated, tested, and operational. The role includes maintaining hardware, running a task suite, and setting up new simulation environments as they are added. This is a hands-on lab and benchmark-operations role suited to a recent graduate or early-career candidate with substantial practical hardware experience. Much of the day involves setting up, resetting, and monitoring trials. The assistant is expected to develop toward independently running a full day of trials after training, resolving routine problems, and knowing when to ask for help.

Requirements

Recent graduate or early-career background in robotics, mechatronics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field, with substantial hands-on hardware experience from labs, projects, internships, or similar practical work.
Evidence of personally building, operating, maintaining, or troubleshooting robots, lab equipment, or electromechanical systems.
Practical troubleshooting ability: investigate faults, test likely causes with appropriate tools, and explain findings.
Careful execution of multi-step procedures, strong attention to detail, and reliable record-keeping.
Ability to develop toward independently running a full day of trials after training, resolving routine problems, and recognizing when to ask for help.
Clear communication and teamwork with researchers and engineers.
Confidence learning unfamiliar tools and software workflows.
3D printing experience, including through university or personal projects.

Nice To Haves

Experience with ROS 2, Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, or another simulator that the candidate has debugged rather than merely launched.
Experience running benchmark or test campaigns where the count and ordering of trials matter.

Responsibilities

Power, wire, and health-check hardware so each station is ready to run; learn unfamiliar hardware and incorporate it into the fleet.
Set up task scenes, run startup and shutdown checks, and monitor trials on physical robots and in simulation.
Check that recordings and logs are complete and linked to the correct task, model, and configuration.
Record interventions and distinguish model failures from equipment, setup, or simulation faults.
Assemble hardware, route cables, mount fixtures and cameras, calibrate equipment, manage spare parts, and make small mechanical fixes.
Carry out routine lab checks and maintenance, organize tools and spares, and follow lab safety procedures.
Keep operating instructions current and flag recurring problems.
Where skills allow, contribute fixtures, 3D-printed parts, or scripts.