Senior Robotics Engineer

At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we're on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We're developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience. To lead this transformative shift in mobility, we've built a world-class team in Automated Driving, Energy & Materials, Human-Centered AI, Human Interactive Driving, Large Behavior Models, and Robotics.
The team will be focused on heavily leveraging machine learning to marry perception, prediction, and action to produce robust, reactive, coordinated robot behaviors, bootstrapping from simulation, leveraging large amounts of data, and adapting in real world scenarios.
TRI has the runway, roadmap, and expertise to transition the technology development to a product that impacts the lives of millions of people. Apply to join a fast paced team that demands high-risk innovation and learning from failures, using thorough processes to identify key technologies, develop a robust, high quality system, and quantitatively evaluate performance. As part of the team, you will be surrounded and supported by the significant core ML, cloud, software, and hardware expertise at TRI, and be a part of TRI's positive and diverse culture. Responsibilities

• Support TRI robot deployments in Toyota factories in Kentucky, Indiana, and potentially other sites.
• Independently operate and test advanced autonomous robots ranging from inspection systems, AMRs, industrial arms, cobot arms, and mobile manipulators.
• Perform failure analysis and troubleshooting of complex autonomous robots, including mechanical and electrical hardware repair, Linux system debugging, custom tool usage, software debugging, and detailed/accurate bug reporting.
• Integrate these robots with existing systems in the factories, including interfacing to PLCs, wifi/networks, fleet management systems, etc.
• Work with the factory shops to safely commission these robots.
• Write robot operation procedures tailored to individual robots and individual tasks/processes.
• Work closely with TMNA factory team members to collect and document system and user interface feedback.
• Work closely with TRI product and software/hardware development teams to iteratively prioritize new features, design improvements, and bug fixes.
• Develop and maintain adaptable and interactive web applications. Make updates to these applications based on user feedback from TMNA factory team members.
• Train appropriate factory team members on robot operations.
• Ensure clear communication and alignment across multidisciplinary teams from very different organizational cultures (TMNA and TRI).

Qualifications

• BS in an engineering-related field and 5+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience with advanced robot development, deployment, failure analysis, and debugging.
• Experience with troubleshooting complex electro-mechanical systems.
• Familiarity with actuators (including motor controllers, gear trains, encoders, etc.) and sensors (f/t sensors, cameras, lidars, IMUs, etc).
• Familiarity with various buses and communication protocols: USB, CAN, RS485, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, etc.
• Proficient in one or more of the following languages: C, C++, or Python.
• Proficient in one or more of the following languages: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Software experience: ROS or other robot system software.
• Experience with Linux (kernel, networking, CLI, etc).
• Ability to travel up to 75% of the time.
• Ability to onboard for approximately 3 months at our headquarters office in Los Altos, CA.
• Have a passion for taking on technical challenges and an independent working style with strong problem-solving abilities.

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $164,000 and $264,000/year for California-based roles. Base pay offered will depend on multiple individualized factors, including, but not limited to, business or organizational needs, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. TRI offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) eligibility, paid time off benefits (including vacation, sick time, and parental leave), and an annual cash bonus structure. Additional details regarding these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
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