Mechatronics Intern

physicalintelligence; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 27,552,000 - 41,328,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Robotics exposure

Startup experience

Job summary

Physical Intelligence currently seeks an engineering intern to join the Hardware Engineering team in San Francisco. You will prototype robotic subsystems, from CAD to PCB to bench testing, and work across mechanical, electrical, and software domains to debug and iteratively improve system performance.

The role emphasizes data-driven design, hands-on lab work, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, with projects tied to PI’s data-collection and model-training operations for robots.

Qualifications

• Completed 3A Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent; exceptional projects may be considered.
• Strong mechanical and electromechanical design fundamentals.
• Familiarity with embedded and mechatronic systems (CAN, BLDC control).
• Proficiency in CAD and rapid prototyping tools (3D printing, laser cutting).
• Basic electrical design and debugging skills.
• Data-driven debugging and test planning (Python, MATLAB).

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and test subsystems for robotic arms and mobile platforms.
• Hands-on prototyping in hardware lab: bring-up, assembly, calibration, reliability testing.
• Integrate inputs from mechanical, electrical, and software teams to improve system performance.
• Analyze deployment data to guide design iteration and reliability improvements.
• Own the full stack of a subsystem from CAD to PCB to bench testing.

Skills

3A Mechanical

Mechatronics

CAN

BLDC control

CAD NX

3D printing

Python

Education

3A Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering

Tools

NX

OnShape

SolidWorks

Job description

Fundamentally, a builder. Someone who loves to make robots real. We want someone who’s as comfortable debugging a CAN bus issue as they are machining a bracket — an individual who thinks in systems, and who gets excited by tight integration between mechanical, electrical, and embedded design. You’ll join the core Hardware Engineering team at Physical Intelligence who is supporting the robots that power PI’s data collection and model training operations.

The Team

The core Hardware Engineering team designs and builds the robotic arms, mobile platforms, and end-effectors that underpin PI’s data collection and model training operations. They work across mechanical, electrical, embedded, and software disciplines to iterate quickly on prototypes, bring up new subsystems, and keep the fleet performant in real-world environments.

In This Role You Will

• Subsystem Design & Test: Design, build, and test key subsystems for various robotic arms and mobile platforms — including actuation, sensing, enclosures, and power systems.

• Hands-On Prototyping: Work hands-on with prototypes in our hardware lab, including bring-up, assembly, calibration, and reliability testing of arms, lifts, mobile bases, and end-effectors.

• Cross-Disciplinary Integration: Integrate cross-disciplinary inputs from mechanical, electrical, and software teams to root-cause mission-critical issues and drive high-level system performance.

• Data-Driven Iteration: Analyze data from deployments to inform design iteration and reliability improvements.

• Full-Stack Subsystem Ownership: Own the full stack of a subsystem from CAD to PCB to bench testing.

What We Hope You’ll Bring

• Completed 3A Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering. Students below 3A with exceptional projects, GitHubs, portfolios, and work experience will also be considered.
• Strong mechanical and electromechanical design fundamentals (dynamic loading, FEA, DFM).
• Familiarity with embedded and mechatronic systems (CAN, BLDC control, motor controllers).
• Proficiency in CAD (NX, OnShape, SolidWorks) and rapid prototyping tools (3D printing — SLA and FDM — laser cutting).
• Basic electrical design and debug (schematics, soldering, test equipment).
• Data-driven debugging and test planning (Python, MATLAB, or similar).

Bonus Points

• Exposure to manufacturing or assembly environments.
• Prior experience in robotics, autonomous systems, or hardware startups.

The duration of this internship is January-May 2027.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.