Special Projects Intern [Fall 2026]

About the role

You will develop and refine robot behaviors that power high-visibility external events and demonstrations for Figure's humanoid robots. This role involves writing and maintaining the software that sequences robot actions and controls actuators during live demos and site deployments. You will test behaviors on real hardware, iterate rapidly, and debug issues in the lab and on site under time constraints. Collaboration with engineers and operations leads will be central as you help bring humanoid robots to life in front of real audiences. You will own end-to-end execution of behavior pipelines for external showcases from initial setup through live troubleshooting. This is a hands-on opportunity for someone who wants to see their code running on physical humanoid robots in front of real people. You will play a direct role in validating robot capabilities that communicate Figure's progress toward autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. Your work will feed into the company mission of shipping humanoid robots with human level intelligence for home and commercial markets.

Key facts

What you'll do

Develop and refine robot behaviors used in external events, demos, and deployments.

Write and maintain software that drives robot demonstrations, including behavior sequencing and control logic.

Test behaviors on hardware, iterate quickly, and debug issues in the lab and on site.

Support event execution, including setup, rehearsals, and live troubleshooting.

Collaborate across engineering and operations teams to deliver polished, reliable demonstrations.

Implement behavior pipelines that translate high-level task descriptions into concrete robot actions.

Instrument robot telemetry and logging to diagnose issues during live demonstrations.

Tune motion parameters to improve stability and performance on real humanoid hardware.

Integrate perception and planning components into end-to-end behavior flows for demos.

Validate robot behavior in rehearsal environments before live audience exposure.

Coordinate with field teams to adapt behaviors for site-specific constraints and requirements.

Maintain documentation for behavior configurations, scripts, and operational procedures.

Contribute to internal tools that streamline the deployment and monitoring of robot behaviors.

Provide on-call support during key external events to ensure timely resolution of issues.

Track execution metrics to drive iterative improvements to robot behavior reliability.

Requirements

Graduate student (Master's or PhD) pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

Minimum 10 weeks internship, 1 to 2 terms preferred.

Strong software engineering skills, with proficiency in Python.

Experience applying AI or machine learning, ideally in a robotics context.

Working knowledge of robotics fundamentals, such as control, kinematics, or motion planning.

Ability to work hands-on with hardware and iterate quickly under tight timelines.

Comfortable working in Linux and debugging on real hardware.

Willingness to travel to Figure facilities in San Jose, CA for in-person event support as needed.

Eligibility to work in the United States without sponsorship for this role.

Must be enrolled in a degree program or have recently completed a degree.

Nice to have

Prior experience developing robot behaviors or working with humanoid or legged robots.

Practical notes

This is a full-time position based in San Jose, CA.

Interns are expected to work on-site for the duration of the internship during Fall 2026.

The internship duration is set at a minimum of 10 weeks, aligned with 1 to 2 academic terms.

Travel to San Jose, CA may be required for event support; candidates should be prepared for occasional onsite work.

This role does not sponsor visas at this time.

Application deadlines and start dates will be confirmed on the Figure careers site and in subsequent communications.