Robotics Lab Technician (Part-Time)

ThoughtForge; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Potential for full-time position

Job summary

ThoughtForge is seeking a hands-on hardware enthusiast to join its robotics lab in Oakland. You will help hardware testing, capture data from real robots, and assist remote engineers via ROS bag workflows. The role includes hands-on fabrication, 3D printing, and cabling work to keep test rigs ready.

The position is on-site in Oakland for 20–30 hours per week, with a path toward full-time as the company grows. A strong knack for practical troubleshooting is essential.

Qualifications

• Local to the SF Bay Area and able to work on-site 20-30 hours per week.

Responsibilities

• Support hardware testing in the lab: set up test rigs, run test procedures, capture results, and flag issues.
• Act as the on-site hands for remote engineers: record and collect ROS bags, run robots through scenarios, and join live pair-debugging sessions on real hardware.
• Support fabrication: 3D printing (prepping, printing, post-processing parts) and building/assembling workcells, fixtures, and cabling.
• Keep the lab organized and test-ready: manage hardware, cables, and fixtures, and handle basic setup and maintenance.
• Document test setups, results, and observations clearly so a distributed team stays unblocked.

Skills

Hands-on hardware

Troubleshooting

Communication

Python exposure

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Linux terminal

3D printing prep

Job description

We are on a mission to bring human-like intelligence to robots.

We believe our workforce should focus on innovation and creativity; dull, dangerous, or dirty jobs should be left to robots. Our solution is powered by a type of Artificial Intelligence called Active Inference, letting robots learn resilient skills and adapt to situations they weren't explicitly trained for.

We’re a pre-Series A startup punching well above our weight, tripling our team since 2023 while building solutions for some of the world’s largest companies - including Fortune 20 customers and government contracts.

About the Team

We are a small, senior team [a varied mix of experience ranging from startups to Microsoft and Amazon], and we like working with people who came to robotics by unique and unusual routes.

We're dedicated to supporting new team members, and we care deeply about your career growth and personal development. We're a hybrid/remote team that values work-life balance, diverse perspectives, and learning from each other.

About the Job

You're the hands and eyes in our robotics lab for our hybrid global team. You'll support hardware testing, help our remote engineers work on physical robots, and pitch in on fabrication: 3D printing and building out workcells. It's a great fit for someone who’s hands-on and likes hardware, and wants to be at the center of how a robotics products actually gets built and tested.

Job Description

• Support hardware testing in the lab: set up test rigs, run test procedures, capture results, and flag issues.
• Act as the on-site hands for remote engineers: record and collect ROS bags, run robots through scenarios, and join live pair-debugging sessions on real hardware.
• Support fabrication: 3D printing (prepping, printing, post-processing parts) and building/assembling workcells, fixtures, and cabling.
• Keep the lab organized and test-ready: manage hardware, cables, and fixtures, and handle basic setup and maintenance.
• Document test setups, results, and observations clearly so a distributed team stays unblocked.

Qualifications

• Local to the San Francisco Bay Area and able to work on-site 20-30 hours per week; Our lab is located in Oakland near the airport.
• Hands-on aptitude with hardware: comfortable troubleshooting robotics systems.
• Comfortable in a Linux/terminal environment; basic ROS/ROS2 familiarity (e.g., recording ROS bags) or the ability to pick it up quickly.
• Some Python exposure: enough to follow along and be useful in a pair-debugging session.
• Organized, reliable, and a clear communicator, especially in writing with remote teammates.

Nice to have

• 3D printing experience and comfort with basic shop/fabrication tools.
• Coursework or hobby projects in robotics, mechatronics, EE, ME, or CS.
• Exposure to industrial or collaborative arms, teach pendants, sensors, or machine vision.

Additional Information

Potential for this role to grow into a full-time position as the company grows.

Compensation Range

$27/hr to $38/hr for 20-30 hours per week.

ThoughtForge does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability (physical, mental or sensory), genetic information, age,parental status, military service and veteran status, hair-style, tattoos or piercings or other non-merit based factors. In addition, we're committed to providing a collaborative and healthy workplace for our employees and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.