Advanced Robotics Controls Engineer, Frontier AI & Robotics

Amazon • San Francisco, CA

1d

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled Mechatronics or Controls Engineer with deep
expertise in actuation systems, low-level motor control, sensor integration and
system characterization to help design, prototype, and refine high
degree-of-freedom robotic systems. You will be a core contributor in the
hardware–software integration loop, ensuring that our systems meet strict
performance, safety, and research requirements. This role demands a blend of
rigorous engineering skill, hands-on prototyping ability, and close
collaboration with AI researchers and software engineers.

Beyond day-to-day hardware and software development, this role also provides
exciting avenues to contribute to innovative research projects. Whether you’re
passionate about low-level control, state estimation, sensor fusion, or
innovative actuation techniques, this role offers opportunities to explore
research directions while shaping the core control stack that drives
high–degree-of-freedom humanoid robots.

Requirements

• Experience in automating, deploying, and supporting large-scale infrastructure
• Master’s or PhD in Controls Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field
• 3+ years of relevant industry experience
• Knowledge of actuator and control system implementation
• Experience with embedded firmware for control applications
• Familiarity with robotic system calibration
• Understanding of control theory and kinematics fundamentals
• Experience with basic sensor integration (encoders, force-torque sensors)

Nice To Haves

• Experience with distributed systems at scale
• Experience with high-DOF robotic systems.
• Experience developing inverse kinematics (IK) solvers, kinematic calibration, and running motion simulations (e.g. MuJoCo, IsaacSim, MATLAB/Simulink).
• Experience producing models and simulations of complex, high degree-of-freedom dynamic electromechanical systems and actuators
• Ability to spec or design force/torque sensors, or develop algorithms for estimating forces from motor currents for compliance and collision handling.
• Ability to implement and tune inverse kinematics and dynamics algorithms; build and run simulations for system performance validation and motion planning
• Specify, source, or design force–torque sensing capabilities, including developing algorithms for estimating forces from motor currents. Integrate sensing into system-level control strategies for collision response, compliance, and back-drivability
• Proficiency in embedded firmware development for real-time control
• Knowledge of estimating and improving actuator back-drivability
• Knowledge of ROS/ROS 2 or similar robotic middleware.
• Experience with programming languages like C++, Python, MATLAB
• Experience with high-performance, safety-critical mechatronic systems.

Responsibilities

• Implement and test motor & actuator integration into electromechanical subsystems according to specifications
• Support the development and tuning of control systems, including position, velocity, and torque control loops
• Assist with interfacing control systems with higher-level platforms
• Help maintain motor control board hardware and firmware
• Execute established SysID routines for electromechanical subsystems; implement calibration procedures for sensors and actuators
• Ensure actuator and control systems adhere to safety and robustness requirements
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and AI teams to prototype hardware solutions

Benefits

• health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage)
• 401(k) matching
• paid time off
• parental leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level