About the role
This intern will participate as a team member of the robotics firmware team, contributing to the bring up of firmware components including hardware drivers, communication protocols, and controls functions that allow the robot to communicate, actuate, estimate, and meet the product specifications required for launch of the product.
What you’ll do:
- Support the development and tuning of motion control components for multi-axis robotic systems, including actuator control, trajectory generation, and path execution.
- Implement and test control loops for position, velocity, torque, and force control, and compare real-world behavior against model-based predictions.
- Contribute to state estimation work, including sensor fusion and Kalman filter–based estimators, in both simulation and on hardware.
- Work with distributed communication interfaces (e.g. CAN, NATS, ROS2) to move data between controllers, sensors, and actuators.
- Support motor and sensor bring-up, including calibration, diagnostics, and characterization of encoders, IMUs, and BLDC/stepper/servo drives.
- Iterate between simulation and hardware testing to reproduce corner cases, debug issues, and improve robustness.
- Write clear, maintainable C++ and Python for both real-time and high-level control software.
Ideal Candidates:
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Physics, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Coursework or project experience in control theory, kinematics, dynamics, or system modeling for electromechanical systems.
- Proficiency in C/C++ and/or Python for embedded and/or high-level control software.
- Exposure to motor control (BLDC, stepper, servo) and sensor integration (e.g. encoders, IMUs, cameras) through coursework, labs, projects, or competition teams.
- Comfortable working in Linux-based development environments and with Git version control workflows.
- A bias toward simple, elegant, robust solutions over unnecessary control system complexity.
- Strong problem-solving skills and a willingness to debug complex electromechanical systems at both the hardware and software level, often with limited telemetry.
- Demonstrated interest in approaching challenges with a physics-based, first-principles mindset.
Nice to have:
- Experience with real-time operating systems (e.g. FreeRTOS, RT Linux, Zephyr) or bare-metal embedded firmware.
- Familiarity with CAN, pub/sub communication frameworks (e.g. NATS, ROS2), or distributed control architectures.
- Hands-on experience implementing state estimation or control algorithms such as PID, trajectory generation, Kalman filtering, or localization.
- Familiarity with physics-based simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) or software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing, or CI/CD for robotics.
- Exposure to safety-critical system design standards (e.g. ISO 13849, IEC 61508).
- Experience with lab and embedded debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG, or SWD.
- Prior internship, research lab, or competition experience (e.g. FIRST Robotics, FSAE, RoboMaster) building and debugging hardware systems.
A Final Note:
If this role excites you, we encourage you to apply — even if you don’t check every box. At Mytra, we build bots, but we hire humans. We value thoughtful challengers who communicate with clarity and respect, and we’re lifelong learners committed to getting better every day. We move fast, learn faster, and show up for each other under pressure. The best outcomes come from diverse perspectives working together to build something meaningful and built to last.
Benefits Include:
- Fully subsidized lunch and snacks at HQ - we eat and share stories together at the “long” table
- Commuter benefits, including an up to $150 monthly commuter benefit
- Lively, modern combined office and lab space where we rapidly iterate through design, build, and test phases
- Fully equipped onsite gym and showers at headquarters
Pay Notice
Compensation for this position will be set based on the candidate's experience level and location. The posted salary band is applicable only to the San Francisco Bay Area and is subject to change.
This role requires on-site presence at our Brisbane, CA headquarters, for close collaboration with the other teams.
The pay range for this role is:
$40-60 USD per hour (Mytra, Inc.)
Mytra