Robotics Technician

Generalist AI; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Generalist is seeking a Robotics Technician to join our hands-on hardware team in San Mateo. You will build, troubleshoot, and maintain robotic systems, performing mechanical and electrical work, wiring, and hardware integration across projects.

The role centers on assembling new robots, diagnosing failures, replacing components, and supporting engineering tests to ensure reliability and performance in real-world environments.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with mechanical systems and hardware assemblies.
• Familiarity with electrical work, wiring, connectors and components.
• Ability to diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair hardware efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Assemble, integrate, and maintain robotic systems and hardware.
• Perform mechanical and electrical work, wiring, and hardware replacement.
• Diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair mechanical and electrical issues.
• Test, inspect, and validate robotics for proper function and reliability.
• Use hand and power tools, diagnostic equipment, and SOPs.
• Read technical docs and assembly instructions to follow procedures.
• Document work, track issues, and communicate findings to engineers.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized workspace.
• Support engineers with hardware modifications and prototype builds.

Skills

Mechanical systems

Electrical work

Robotics hardware

Problem-solving

Hands-on

Tools

Diagnostic equipment

Test equipment

Job description

About Generalist

At Generalist, we are on a mission to build general intelligence for the physical world and make it useful to everyone. We believe the industries and homes of the future will depend on humans and machines working together in new ways. Robots can help us build more and get more done.

We build embodied foundation models, starting with a focus on dexterity. This requires advancing the frontiers of data, models, and hardware, to enable robots to intelligently interact with the physical world.

The company embraces both large-scale AI and robotics as core to its DNA. Our team of researchers, roboticists, and company builders come from OpenAI, Boston Dynamics, Google DeepMind, and other frontier labs—with a track record of shipping AI breakthroughs. Before Generalist, we pioneered large embodied multimodal models and vision-language-action models (PaLM-E, RT-2, Gemini Robotics), launched and scaled ChatGPT and GPT-4 to hundreds of millions of users, engineered the foundations of autonomous driving, built next-generation robots (Atlas, Spot, Stretch) and pushed the limits of what they can do (from parkour to manipulation, and testing robustness).

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.

Robotics Technician

About the Role

This is a hands-on, execution-driven role at the center of building, operating, and maintaining our robots.

As a Robotics Technician, you'll work across a wide range of hardware activities — from assembling new robotic systems to troubleshooting, repairing, and improving existing ones. You'll help ensure our robots are built correctly, operate reliably, and remain ready for use.

In practice, you'll assemble mechanical systems, perform electrical work, integrate hardware components, test and troubleshoot robots, and help resolve issues as they arise. One day you might be building a new robot, the next diagnosing a hardware failure, replacing components, or supporting an engineering test.

This role is about being adaptable, solving problems, and helping keep our robotic systems moving forward.

You will be responsible for:

• Assembling, integrating, and maintaining robotic systems and hardware
• Performing mechanical and electrical work, including wiring, connectors, component installation, and hardware replacement
• Diagnosing, troubleshooting, and repairing mechanical and electrical issues
• Testing, inspecting, and validating robotic systems to ensure proper functionality and reliability
• Using hand tools, power tools, diagnostic equipment, and specialized tools to perform precise technical work
• Reading and following technical documentation, assembly instructions, and standard operating procedures
• Identifying hardware defects, performance issues, and opportunities for improvement
• Supporting engineers with hardware modifications, prototype builds, testing, and integration work
• Performing routine maintenance, repairs, and upgrades on existing robotic systems
• Documenting work performed, tracking issues, and communicating findings to engineers and teammates
• Maintaining a safe, clean, and organized workspace
• Contributing to improvements in build processes, maintenance procedures, and overall hardware reliability

You might thrive in this role if you:

• Have hands-on experience working with mechanical systems, electronics, robotics, or other complex hardware
• Are comfortable using tools to assemble, troubleshoot, modify, and repair physical systems
• Have experience or familiarity with basic electrical work, including wiring, connectors, and electrical components
• Enjoy figuring out why something isn't working and taking the initiative to fix it
• Are detail-oriented and take pride in producing clean, reliable work
• Can follow structured instructions while also thinking independently when unexpected issues arise
• Are comfortable learning new tools, equipment, and technical processes
• Can adapt quickly between different projects and priorities
• Are reliable, resourceful, and comfortable working in a fast-moving environment
• Enjoy working alongside engineers and other technical teams
• Like working with your hands and seeing the direct impact of your work

What This Role Is Not

• This is not a purely theoretical or design-focused engineering position
• This is not a robotics software or controls engineering role
• This is not limited to repetitive assembly or production-line work
• This is not a position where you'll only follow instructions without opportunities to solve problems

Instead, this role sits at the intersection of robot assembly, hardware integration, testing, and maintenance. You'll be expected to develop a broad understanding of our robotic systems and contribute wherever hands-on technical support is needed.

Growth & Impact

As we scale our robotic fleet and hardware capabilities, this role will evolve alongside the complexity of our systems and operations.

You’ll have opportunities to develop deeper expertise in robotics, take ownership of increasingly complex technical work, and contribute to improvements in how our robots are assembled, tested, maintained, and supported.

Whether your interests lean toward mechanical systems, electrical integration, troubleshooting, or robotics engineering support, this role offers exposure to a broad range of technical challenges.

If you enjoy building things, solving problems, and working directly with advanced robotic systems, this is an opportunity to make a tangible impact on how real-world robotics scales.