Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is aiming to make general-purpose robots a reality to assist with household chores, cooking, and aiding the older population in maintaining independence. This requires robots that can operate reliably in messy, unstructured environments and perform a wide variety of tasks with minimal human supervision. The specific role focuses on supporting the electromechanical design, manufacturing, and testing of custom robotic hardware to achieve this goal.
Requirements
- Experience with robotic manipulation and/or mobile robot applications.
- Proficiency with CAD tools (SolidWorks/Onshape) and drawing standards (GD&T, tolerances, fits).
- Comfortable in the shop: basic machining, tapping, threading, and rapid fabrication tools.
- Proficiency with mechatronics (actuators, sensors, wiring, cable routing) and practical DFM/DFS instincts.
- Experience with tendon and/or back-drivable actuation.
- MATLAB/Python for creating scripts and analyzing data.
- Bringing assemblies from research prototypes to low-volume production.
Responsibilities
- Design multi-degree-of-freedom electromechanical assemblies and test fixtures and environments; generate rough and detailed CAD, FEA analysis, and clear drawings with GD&T; and specify materials and fabrication processes.
- Design and build drivetrains (e.g., motors, gearboxes, belts, bearings), select and integrate sensors (encoders, torque sensors, cameras, etc), and power and communication cabling.
- Follow what you build through its lifecycle, including fit/finish debugging, tolerance stack checks, failure analysis, continuous improvement, and engaging with end users.
- Build and test ideas quickly using 3D printers, waterjet, CNCs, and rapid fabrication services. Design instrumented lab experiments and test rigs, log and analyze data, and feed results back into designs.
- Partner with Software, AI, Product, and Deployment teams to move from prototype to production.
- For projects that we can not staff internally, clearly scope and guide external resources collaboratively and communicatively.
Other
- 3+ years of industry experience
- Clear communication, meticulous documentation, and a bias for fast iteration.
- A great collaborator who can take the lead on relationships with adjacent and external teams.
- Help develop our growing team through mentorship, leading by example, building consensus and culture, and contributing to work planning and milestone definitions. You’ll work with and through others.
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or related field.
