Robotics Lab Technician (Part-Time)

ThoughtForge AI; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

ThoughtForge AI in Oakland, CA, seeks a hands-on hardware lab assistant to support testing, assembly, and fabrication for a hybrid global team. You will set up test rigs, collect data, and help remote engineers run scenarios on real robots.

Ideal candidates enjoy hardware tinkering, are comfortable in Linux, have basic ROS/ROS2 exposure or can learn quickly, and have some Python experience. On-site 20–30 hours per week in our lab near the airport.

Qualifications

• Hands-on hardware experience with robotics and lab equipment.
• Familiarity with Linux/terminal environments.
• Basic knowledge of ROS/ROS2 and data capture (ROS bags is a plus).
• Some Python exposure to support quick scripting and debugging.

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

Linux/Terminal

ROS / ROS2 basics

Python basics

Tools

ROS/ROS2

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 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.

Job Requirements

• 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.