Member of Technical Staff , Frontier AI & Robotics

Amazon is hiring a Member of Technical Staff , Frontier AI & Robotics in San Francisco, United States. Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

Level's read on this job

Works on AI ●●●○ is how Level rates this role: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
Tools and skills the posting cites include Python, C and AI research.
Level classifies it as a mid-level role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Develop software-driven test and validation frameworks for next-generation robotic systems and AI-powered robotics infrastructure.

PythonC

ai-researchtest-automationhardware-in-the-looproboticsfirmware-integrationfailure-analysis

Join our Frontier AI & Robotics team to support the development of test infrastructure for next-generation robotic systems that will transform how robots perceive and interact with the world. You'll take ownership of designing and implementing software-driven test and validation frameworks across advanced actuators, precision sensors, and robotic subsystems — ensuring engineering validation and manufacturing test readiness to support breakthrough AI research and real-world deployment.

Key job responsibilities
- Test Infrastructure Development - Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks for engineering validation and manufacturing test of robotic systems and subsystems. Build scalable, reusable test software that integrates with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments, data acquisition systems, and robotic control interfaces.
- Software Integration & Automation - Develop test automation software in Python, C++, or equivalent languages to exercise actuators, sensors, vision systems, and communication interfaces. Implement scripted test sequences, data logging pipelines, and pass/fail criteria for prototype and production-intent hardware.
- Hardware Bring-Up & SW/HW Integration - Perform hands-on hardware bring-up of robotic subsystems including power sequencing, communication interface validation, peripheral initialization, and firmware/software integration. Debug across the full stack, from board-level hardware through embedded firmware to application-layer test software, to bring new hardware revisions to a validated, testable state.
- Engineering Validation & Mfg Test - Create and execute test protocols for functional validation, performance characterization, and regression testing of robotic subsystems. Develop test stations and software tooling that transition from R&D validation through manufacturing test readiness.
- Debugging & Failure Analysis - Troubleshoot and root-cause issues across the robotic platform (power, compute, comms, actuators, sensors) using software diagnostic tools, log analysis, and bench instrumentation. Conduct failure analysis from component to system level. Reproduce critical failures and bridge communication between the lab and engineering teams.
- Data Analysis & Reporting - Build data pipelines and analysis tools to aggregate test results, identify trends, and generate automated test reports. Develop dashboards or visualization tools that provide engineering teams with actionable insights on hardware quality and reliability.
- Technical Documentation - Author and maintain test plans, test procedures, automation framework documentation, failure analysis reports, and troubleshooting guides; uphold consistent documentation standards across the lab.
- Lab Operations Support - Support equipment maintenance, inventory management, vendor coordination, and safety/regulatory compliance for test lab environments.

A day in the life
Your focus centers on the software test infrastructure and hardware integration that validates our advanced robotic platforms. You'll develop and maintain automated test systems for engineering validation and manufacturing test while getting hands-on with hardware bring-up and debugging, working alongside hardware engineers, firmware developers, and fellow technicians. Your responsibilities include writing test automation code, building HIL test environments, bringing up new hardware revisions, debugging SW/HW integration issues at the bench, analyzing test data, and designing test fixtures. Throughout the day, you balance developing new test capabilities with hands-on hardware integration, supporting urgent prototype bring-up requests, maintaining test infrastructure, and preparing test readiness for upcoming milestones. You're switching between writing code at your workstation, probing signals and validating hardware at the bench, collaborating in design reviews with engineers, and ensuring test lab equipment is calibrated and maintained.

About the team
At Frontier AI & Robotics, we're not just advancing robotics – we're reimagining it from the ground up. Our team is building the future of intelligent robotics through frontier foundation models and end-to-end learned systems. We tackle some of the most challenging problems in AI and robotics, from developing sophisticated perception systems to creating adaptive manipulation strategies that work in complex, real-world scenarios.

What sets us apart is our unique combination of ambitious research vision and practical impact. We leverage Amazon's computational infrastructure and rich real-world datasets to train and deploy state-of-the-art foundation models. Our work spans the full spectrum of robotics intelligence – from multimodal perception using images, videos, and sensor data, to sophisticated manipulation strategies that can handle diverse real-world scenarios. We're building systems that don't just work in the lab, but scale to meet the demands of Amazon's global operations.

Join us if you're excited about pushing the boundaries of what's possible in robotics, working with world-class researchers, and seeing your innovations deployed at unprecedented scale.

Basic qualifications

- 4+ years of experience developing test automation software for electromechanical or robotic systems
- Proficiency in Python, C++, or equivalent programming languages for test automation and data acquisition
- Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, board-level debugging, and SW/HW integration for embedded or electromechanical systems
- Knowledge of test instrumentation and measurement devices (oscilloscope, DAQ systems, logic analyzer, or equivalent)
- Understanding of electromechanical systems including power distribution, communication buses (CAN, EtherCAT, RS-485), and sensor integration
- Experience developing automated test protocols, test frameworks, and technical documentation for prototype or production hardware
- Experience with version control systems (Git) and CI/CD practices for test software

Preferred qualifications

- Bachelor's degree or equivalent in computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, mechanical engineering, or a related field
- Experience building test infrastructure for engineering validation or manufacturing test environments
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and system architecture diagrams
- Experience integrating and debugging across firmware, embedded Linux, and application-layer software on robotic or electromechanical platforms
- Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test frameworks, robotic system acceptance testing, and automated regression test suites
- Familiarity with data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Foxglove, Grafana, MATLAB, or equivalent)
- Experience with real-time operating systems, embedded test interfaces, or FPGA-based test platforms
- Operational experience with robotic control systems, including performance monitoring, hardware health diagnostics, and data-driven analysis of robotic system behavior during testing
- Experience designing test systems for high degree-of-freedom robotic platforms, including actuators, force/torque sensors, IMUs, encoders, vision systems, and associated control hardware

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

How we rate this

Member of Technical Staff , Frontier AI & Robotics at Amazon rates 65 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Member of Technical Staff , Frontier AI & Robotics is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 3 of 4: Works on AI.
The role is based in US, CA, San Francisco.
The job was posted on August 5, 2026.
Seniority: mid.
Applications are handled by Amazon. Apply on Amazon

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

AI ResearchTest AutomationHardware In The LoopRoboticsFirmware IntegrationFailure AnalysisPythonC

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a research question you investigated. What did you find?
Tell me about a project where test automation was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where hardware in the loop was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where robotics was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where firmware integration was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: AI Research, Test Automation, Hardware In The Loop, Robotics, and Firmware Integration. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.

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