Physical IntelligenceRobot Operator
Physical Intelligence is hiring a Robot Operator in San Francisco, United States. Level rates it ; you can apply on Physical Intelligence.
Level's read on this job
- On Level's scale, this role is Works on AI ●●●○: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
- The posting mentions ChatGPT, Robotic Arms and Specialized Controllers among its tools and skills.
- Physical Intelligence has 43 other open roles on Level.
AI in this role
Operate and teleoperate robotic systems to collect high-quality demonstration data for training foundation models in physical AI.
About Physical Intelligence
Physical Intelligence is building the future where AI-powered robots seamlessly integrate into our daily lives. Imagine a robot that can fold your laundry, prepare meals, and organize your space. Picture robots in warehouses that can handle any package, or manufacturing robots that can adapt to new products without reprogramming. We're making this vision reality by developing general-purpose AI that can control robots to perform any physical task.
Our team of engineers, scientists, and roboticists is creating foundation models—the same breakthrough technology behind ChatGPT—but for the physical world. Just as language models learned to understand and generate text from massive datasets, our robots learn to interact with the physical world through high-quality demonstration data.
The Role
Data collection is the fuel that drives our mission. Every robot movement, every successful task completion, every demonstration you provide teaches our AI systems how to interact with the physical world. As a Robot Operator, you're not just controlling robots—you're literally training the AI that will power the next generation of intelligent machines.
You'll be at the forefront of robotics AI, working hands-on with cutting-edge robotic systems to generate the high-quality training data our models need. Your precise demonstrations teach our AI everything from delicate manipulation tasks to complex multi-step processes. This is your chance to directly contribute to technology that will transform how robots help humans in homes, workplaces, and beyond.
What You'll Do
Primary Responsibilities
- Teleoperate robotic arms through a variety of tasks using our intuitive control systems
- Either lead robot movements with your arms (the robot mirrors your actions) or guide robots using specialized controllers
- Complete diverse tasks ranging from household activities like folding laundry to complex assembly work
- Maintain high standards for data quality and consistency across all demonstrations
- Meet established metrics for data collection volume and quality during your shift
Important Note: This is a metrics-based role where you'll be expected to meet specific data collection goals throughout your shift. The work involves repetitive task execution, and the quality of data collection is extremely important to our AI training success. Watch some examples of training here: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1YPNYJxKF4i2U41o9pi5AzHCQFYaf2dnw
Example Tasks You'll Train Robots On
- Picking up grocery items and placing them in shipping bags
- Sorting cups, plates, and utensils into bins
- Opening and closing jars of various sizes
- Folding different types of clothing and fabrics
- Installing light bulbs and other simple assembly tasks
- Multi-step electronics assembly processes
Additional Duties
- Review and annotate videos of robot task performances using computer interfaces
- Provide detailed feedback on robot performance and data quality
- Assist with equipment setup and basic office tasks as needed
- Participate in process improvements to enhance data collection efficiency
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand at a workstation for 8-hour shifts
- Full use of both arms and hands for robot control
- Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity
- Attention to detail for quality control
Work Environment & Schedule
Shift Options (8 hours with 30-minute lunch + two paid breaks):
- Evening: 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM PT
- Overnight: 12:00 AM -8:00 AM PT
Shift patterns: Mon-Fri, Wed-Sun, Sat-Wed
Full-Time Employment
Commitment: Minimum 5 days per week
Compensation: $25/hour
Benefits: 401(k), Health insurance, Paid time off, Vision insurance, Dental insurance, Paid sick time, Commuter assistance
What We're Looking For
Ideal Background
- Experience with hands-on technical work, lab environments, or precision tasks
- Interest in AI, robotics, and cutting-edge technology
- Strong attention to detail and quality focus
Key Qualities
- Meticulous attention to detail—data quality is crucial for AI training
- Good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination
- Enjoys repetitive, precision-focused work
- Thrives in fast-paced, metrics-driven environments
- Excited about contributing to breakthrough AI research
- Collaborative mindset and strong work ethic
Nice to Have
- Experience with robotics systems or automation
- Background in manufacturing, assembly, or laboratory work
- Familiarity with AI/ML concepts
- Gaming or simulation experience with controllers
Why This Role Matters
You'll be part of the team building the foundation for general-purpose robotics AI. Every demonstration you provide directly impacts our ability to create robots that can help with household chores, assist in workplaces, and improve quality of life. This is a rare opportunity to work at the cutting edge of AI and robotics while developing valuable technical skills in a rapidly growing field.
Ready to help train the robots of tomorrow? We'd love to connect with you!
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
How we rate this
Robot Operator at Physical Intelligence 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.
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.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a research question you investigated. What did you find?
- Tell me about a project where teleoperation was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where data collection 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 annotation was part of your work. What did you do?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: AI Research, Teleoperation, Data Collection, Robotics, and Annotation. 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.
Get your CV reviewed before you apply
Send your CV and the role you want next. Your review arrives by email within 3 days.
Get new AI jobs (Works on AI ●●●○ or higher) by email
One email a week, each job rated for how much AI is in the work. No recruiter spam, unsubscribe in one click.
Free.
Similar roles
Other roles that work on AI, at other companies.
What kind of AI work fits you?
Answer 12 practical questions in about three minutes. Get a simple profile, the work it points to, and live roles to explore next.
Find my next step