Engineering Apprentice - Robotics QA

About the role

The Engineering Apprentice - Robotics QA is an entry-level role for highly observant, operationally-minded engineers. You will be the eyes and ears of the engineering team in the test arena. You will run repetitive, grueling tests on the robot to ensure it survives the construction environment. Under the guidance of Senior QA engineers, you will learn how to systematically break complex systems, collect the data, and document the failures. This role is ideal for someone who is curious across disciplines, obsessively detail-oriented, and not afraid to get their hands dirty to find the root cause of a problem.

Key Responsibilities

Test Execution:

• Run extensive hours of manual and semi-automated tests on the physical robot platform for new features of hardware and software, specifically focusing on edge cases, collision avoidance, and tool actuation.
• Monitor robot telemetry during long-endurance tests, flagging any sudden spikes in temperature, latency, or power draw.
• Follow and improve QA processes, test scripts, and documentation (test plans, pass/fail records, "How-To" guides) to keep pace with a rapidly evolving product.

Log Management & Triaging:

• Download, label, and archive data logs (ROS bags) after every test session.
• Own the end-to-end lifecycle of test-discovered bugs - from initial documentation through coordination with the responsible engineering team to verified closure.
• Assist in maintaining and preparing physical test environment (setting up drywall panels, adding realistic test cases, protrusions, obstacles etc.).

Educational Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science, Robotics
Engineering, or a related technical field.

• 0-2 years of experience (strong internships or university robotics team experience counts).
  
• Working understanding of both hardware and/or software fundamentals - comfortably understand CAD designs, read circuit-level documentation and/or navigate a Linux terminal or codebase to isolate
  a problem.
  
• Incredibly organized and detail-oriented; you don't let small anomalies slide.
  
• Strong analytical and communication skills - able to look at logs and data, spot patterns, write clear bug reports, and drive resolution conversations with engineers across disciplines.
  
• A hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves disposition - willing to dig deeper into a failure rather than just flag it, even if that means spending hours on the test floor reproducing an edge case.
  
• Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic, ambiguous environment where processes may be incomplete and priorities shift quickly.

Preferred Experiences

• 0-2 years of experience (strong internships or university robotics team experience counts).
  
• Working understanding of both hardware and/or software fundamentals - comfortably understand CAD designs, read circuit-level documentation and/or navigate a Linux terminal or codebase to isolate a problem.
  
• Incredibly organized and detail-oriented; you don't let small anomalies slide.
  
• Strong analytical and communication skills - able to look at logs and data, spot patterns, write clear bug reports, and drive resolution conversations with engineers across disciplines.
  
• A hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves disposition - willing to dig deeper into a failure rather than just flag it, even if that means spending hours on the test floor reproducing an edge case.
  
• Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic, ambiguous environment where processes may be incomplete and priorities shift quickly.

Preferred Experiences

• Experience competing in robotics competitions (FSAE, Robocon, Mars Rover) in a testing or operational role.
  
• Familiarity with both hardware QA methods (FMEA, root-cause analysis, environmental/stress testing, EOL testing) and/or software QA methods (automated regression, CI/CD integration, test coverage tracking).