Amazon Advanced Robotics Controls Engineer Frontier AI & 

United States, California, San Francisco 

156872357

About the Role:
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 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.Core Requirements* Master’s or PhD in Controls Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field
* Strong background in actuator and control system design, including characterization and integration
* Proficiency in embedded firmware development for real-time control
* Experience in robotic system calibration and system identification
* Strong grasp of control theory, dynamics, and kinematics of robotic systems
* Experience with sensor integration (encoders, force–torque sensors, tactile, MUs)
* Proven ability to work hands-on in a fast-moving, multidisciplinary teamPreferred Skills* Experience with high-DOF robotic systems.
* Experience developing inverse kinematics (IK) solvers, kinematic calibration, and running motion simulations (e.g. MuJoCo, IsaacSim, MATLAB/Simulink).
* 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
* 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.
Key job responsibilities
* Own motor & actuator selection, characterization, and integration into electromechanical subsystems to meet system-level performance specifications* Design and tune low-level control systems, including position, velocity, torque, and impedance control loops* Interface control systems with higher-level AI and motion-planning platforms, ensuring reliable, low-latency communication and robust operation* Maintain and update motor control board hardware and firmware, including environments for executing control loops, reading encoders, and managing outputs* Develop and execute SysID routines for electromechanical subsystems; design calibration procedures for sensors, actuators, and kinematic chains to ensure precision and repeatability* Ensure actuator and control systems meet safety, robustness, and maintainability requirements for advanced robotic system operation* Work hands-on with mechanical, electrical, and AI teams to rapidly prototype and iterate on hardware solutions

- Master’s or PhD in Controls Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field
- Strong background in actuator and control system design, including characterization and integration
- Proficiency in embedded firmware development for real-time control
- Experience in robotic system calibration and system identification
- Strong grasp of control theory, dynamics, and kinematics of robotic systems
- Experience with sensor integration (encoders, force–torque sensors, tactile, MUs)
- Proven ability to work hands-on in a fast-moving, multidisciplinary team

- Experience with high-DOF robotic systems.
- Experience developing inverse kinematics (IK) solvers, kinematic calibration, and running motion simulations (e.g. MuJoCo, IsaacSim, MATLAB/Simulink).
- 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, dynamics algorithms; build and run simulations for system performance validation and motion planning
- Experience with programming lang. like C++, Python, MATLABPursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.