Robotics controls intern

Start Date:

ASAP

Mundane is a seed‑stage robot learning startup founded by Stanford roboticists and builders. We're deploying a fleet of humanoid robots to perform real‑world tasks in commercial environments, collecting the data required to train the next generation of embodied intelligence.

We move fast, prototype aggressively, test in the real world, and iterate based on reality—not simulations. You can read more at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

As a Robotics Controls Intern, you'll work on teleoperation and control systems for humanoid robots, translating human input into stable, real‑world robotic behavior. You'll contribute to human‑in‑the‑loop control systems where operator input must adapt to robotic platforms with different physical constraints—designing control strategies that stay intuitive while ensuring system stability and performance.

This is a hands‑on role working directly with real hardware. You'll collaborate with controls, hardware, and learning teams to develop and deploy algorithms on physical systems, prioritizing real‑world performance over simulation.

• Develop control strategies that translate human input into coordinated, intuitive robot motion across platforms with different physical configurations.
• Build and tune multi‑DoF control systems on real robotic manipulators.
• Implement and evaluate advanced control approaches (e.g., impedance‑style control) that keep behavior stable under varying dynamics.
• Build and optimize control interfaces connecting research algorithms to hardware, using URDF models to reason about robot structure and constraints.
• Integrate, test, and debug systems hands‑on on real robots.
• Collaborate with controls, hardware, and learning teams to move from research to deployment.

• Currently pursuing a degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Strong understanding of robot kinematics (forward/inverse kinematics, Jacobians).
• Familiarity with control systems (PID required; exposure to impedance or force control preferred).
• Basic understanding of robot dynamics (mass, inertia, torque relationships).
• Experience programming in Python and/or C++.
• Familiarity with URDF and robot modeling concepts.
• Interest in working with real robotic hardware and debugging physical systems.

• Experience with teleoperation systems, haptics, or human‑in‑the‑loop control.
• Familiarity with ROS / ROS2 and robotics tooling (RViz, Gazebo, etc.).
• Exposure to biomechanics, human motor control, or perception.
• Hands‑on experience with robotic arms (e.g., UR, Franka, or similar).
• Experience with CAD software (Fusion 360, Solid Works, Onshape, etc.).

• Ownership over control systems that ship to real‑world robotic deployments.
• Direct exposure to the full robotics stack: hardware, controls, software, and teleoperation.
• Tight collaboration with a small, high‑caliber, multidisciplinary founding team.
• Fast iteration cycles with real hardware feedback loops.
• Competitive compensation, mentorship, and potential for a full‑time return offer.

Competitive salary + equity, flexible PTO, coffee, robots, sauna & cold plunge (pending).