Robotics Software Internship, Manipulation

• Help design and implement dexterous manipulation algorithms for humanoid robots with high-DOF, multi-fingered hands, working closely with senior engineers.

• Contribute to the manipulation pipeline (perception, grasping, trajectory optimization, motion planning, and control) on tasks like precise grasping, dual-arm manipulation, and in-hand object manipulation.

• Support the implementation and testing of control strategies for dexterous manipulation, including force/motion control and visual/tactile servoing.

• Assist with integrating manipulation components into the humanoid robot's whole-body controller and loco-manipulation efforts.

• Build and iterate on digital-twin simulation environments for algorithm development using simulators such as MuJoCo and Isaac Sim.

• Run and help design tests in both simulated and real-world environments, and help analyze the results.

• Partner with the machine learning team to help train and deploy models for advanced manipulation tasks.

• Stay current on manipulation research and bring relevant ideas, traditional and deep learning-based, back to the team.

• Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

• Coursework, lab research, or project experience (capstone projects, robotics competitions, personal projects) involving control and manipulation of robotic or humanoid arms.

• Foundational knowledge of motion planning, control theory, and optimization.

• Programming proficiency in C++ and/or Python.

• Exposure to relevant robotics libraries or tools (e.g., ROS, MoveIt!, Drake, OpenRAVE) through coursework or projects.

• Familiarity with deep learning fundamentals as applied to robotics or manipulation.

• Some exposure to computer vision concepts, such as sensors, point clouds, segmentation, and object detection, through coursework or projects.

• A strong desire to learn quickly and contribute in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Project or research experience with contact modeling, force/torque estimation, or tactile sensing for dexterous tasks.

• Exposure to machine learning for dexterous manipulation, such as learning-based grasp strategies, behavior cloning, or reinforcement learning.

• Published research related to manipulation.

• Prior internship or hands-on experience in a robotics, autonomy, or hardware startup environment.

At Persona AI, our internship program gives you direct, hands-on experience building cutting-edge humanoid robotics alongside industry experts. We offer full-time term opportunities across three upcoming cohorts:

• Fall 2026: August – December

• Spring 2027: January – May

• Summer 2027: May – August

As an intern, you’ll be paired 1:1 with a senior engineer mentor to accelerate your growth and guide your technical contributions. You will bond with your cohort through intern group lunches, gain cross-functional perspective during company-wide learning lunches, and unwind with fun team activities throughout the term. Whether you're working on advanced motion planning or real-world system testing, you'll tackle meaningful engineering challenges while immersing yourself in our collaborative startup culture.

We evaluate applications as they are received rather than waiting for the posted deadline to pass. Positions for each cohort are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and the portal will close as soon as all available roles are finalized.

To give yourself the best chance of securing a spot, keep these tips in mind: