CPT Robotics Engineer Jobs
Robotics Engineer CPT jobs let F-1 students apply control systems, automation, and mechatronics coursework directly on the job. Your DSO must document that the role is an integral part of your degree program, so bring a job description and course syllabus to your CPT authorization meeting before your start date.
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Get Access To All JobsWheeled Platforms & Lifting Systems
Emeryville, California | Internship
Proposed base compensation. Final terms are subject to Astera’s hiring process.
Position Summary
Help us build and compare the systems that allow robots to move and adjust their working height. Under engineering mentorship, you will prototype wheeled mobile bases and lifting platforms, run hands-on experiments, and evaluate how different designs perform under realistic operating conditions. Starting with our existing hoverboard hub motors and other motorized wheel hardware, you will help explore different wheel and drivetrain configurations. You will also help develop and evaluate lifting platforms, comparing commercially available mechanisms and custom prototypes. Your work will help the team select practical designs based on measured performance, reliability, cost, and ease of integration.
Core Responsibilities
- Evaluate wheeled platforms. Assemble and modify mobile bases using hoverboard hub motors, hub motor wheels, and conventional motor-driven wheel assemblies. Help design and fabricate chassis, mounts, and supporting components. Compare navigation performance of different systems.
- Compare wheel and drivetrain configurations. Develop repeatable tests to evaluate maneuverability, low-speed motion, traction, payload handling, power consumption, steerability and general performance across relevant floor surfaces.
- Prototype lifting platforms. Help assemble, adapt, and test different lifting mechanisms, such as scissor lifts and telescoping lifting columns. Integrate actuators, guides, mounts, and supporting structures.
- Evaluate lifting performance. Compare lifting range, speed, positioning repeatability, rigidity, and stability under defined loads. Investigate vibration, mechanical play, and other issues that affect reliable operation.
- Integrate controls and measurements. Configure motor controllers, connect position and speed feedback, and develop simple control and data-collection scripts. Help implement travel limits, homing, and coordinated motion under engineering supervision.
- Document comparisons and improve designs. Maintain CAD files, wiring diagrams, parts lists, and test records. Summarize tradeoffs and work with engineers to refine promising designs.
- Keep experimental hardware ready. Organize components, tools, and spares; maintain prototypes and test fixtures; and assist with equipment inspections, repairs, and experiment setup.
Required Qualifications
- Coursework, projects, or practical experience in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, mechatronics, or a related discipline.
- Experience building and troubleshooting a physical system through coursework, research, student teams, or personal projects.
- Basic familiarity with mechanical assembly, electrical wiring, motors, and sensors.
- Interest in hands-on prototyping and systematic testing, including careful measurement and documentation.
- Comfort working with an engineering mentor and contributing to the upkeep of a shared robotics lab.
Preferred Experience
- CAD, 3D printing, machining, or fabrication of mechanical prototypes.
- BLDC motors, motor controllers, encoders, wheeled robots, or drivetrain design.
- Linear actuators, screw drives, scissor lifts, lifting columns, or other positioning mechanisms.
- Python, C/C++, microcontrollers, or basic feedback control.
- Building test fixtures, collecting experimental data, or comparing hardware designs.
Prior experience with every technology listed is not expected. We value curiosity, practical problem-solving, and an interest in understanding how different mechanical systems perform through real experiments.
Wheeled Platforms & Lifting Systems
Emeryville, California | Internship
Proposed base compensation. Final terms are subject to Astera’s hiring process.
Position Summary
Help us build and compare the systems that allow robots to move and adjust their working height. Under engineering mentorship, you will prototype wheeled mobile bases and lifting platforms, run hands-on experiments, and evaluate how different designs perform under realistic operating conditions. Starting with our existing hoverboard hub motors and other motorized wheel hardware, you will help explore different wheel and drivetrain configurations. You will also help develop and evaluate lifting platforms, comparing commercially available mechanisms and custom prototypes. Your work will help the team select practical designs based on measured performance, reliability, cost, and ease of integration.
Core Responsibilities
- Evaluate wheeled platforms. Assemble and modify mobile bases using hoverboard hub motors, hub motor wheels, and conventional motor-driven wheel assemblies. Help design and fabricate chassis, mounts, and supporting components. Compare navigation performance of different systems.
- Compare wheel and drivetrain configurations. Develop repeatable tests to evaluate maneuverability, low-speed motion, traction, payload handling, power consumption, steerability and general performance across relevant floor surfaces.
- Prototype lifting platforms. Help assemble, adapt, and test different lifting mechanisms, such as scissor lifts and telescoping lifting columns. Integrate actuators, guides, mounts, and supporting structures.
- Evaluate lifting performance. Compare lifting range, speed, positioning repeatability, rigidity, and stability under defined loads. Investigate vibration, mechanical play, and other issues that affect reliable operation.
- Integrate controls and measurements. Configure motor controllers, connect position and speed feedback, and develop simple control and data-collection scripts. Help implement travel limits, homing, and coordinated motion under engineering supervision.
- Document comparisons and improve designs. Maintain CAD files, wiring diagrams, parts lists, and test records. Summarize tradeoffs and work with engineers to refine promising designs.
- Keep experimental hardware ready. Organize components, tools, and spares; maintain prototypes and test fixtures; and assist with equipment inspections, repairs, and experiment setup.
Required Qualifications
- Coursework, projects, or practical experience in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, mechatronics, or a related discipline.
- Experience building and troubleshooting a physical system through coursework, research, student teams, or personal projects.
- Basic familiarity with mechanical assembly, electrical wiring, motors, and sensors.
- Interest in hands-on prototyping and systematic testing, including careful measurement and documentation.
- Comfort working with an engineering mentor and contributing to the upkeep of a shared robotics lab.
Preferred Experience
- CAD, 3D printing, machining, or fabrication of mechanical prototypes.
- BLDC motors, motor controllers, encoders, wheeled robots, or drivetrain design.
- Linear actuators, screw drives, scissor lifts, lifting columns, or other positioning mechanisms.
- Python, C/C++, microcontrollers, or basic feedback control.
- Building test fixtures, collecting experimental data, or comparing hardware designs.
Prior experience with every technology listed is not expected. We value curiosity, practical problem-solving, and an interest in understanding how different mechanical systems perform through real experiments.
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Get Access To All JobsRobotics Engineer CPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Robotics Engineer role qualify for CPT authorization?
It qualifies if your DSO confirms the role is an integral part of your degree program. Robotics Engineer positions typically align with mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or dedicated robotics graduate programs. Bring the job description and a list of relevant courses to your DSO meeting so they can document the curricular connection clearly.
Can I do full-time CPT as a Robotics Engineer without affecting my OPT?
Full-time CPT of 12 months or more eliminates your OPT eligibility entirely, including the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Most F-1 students in robotics programs use part-time CPT during the semester and reserve full-time CPT for summer terms to stay under the 12-month threshold and protect their post-graduation OPT.
How do I find Robotics Engineer CPT jobs with employers who understand F-1 work authorization?
Search Migrate Mate to find robotics and automation employers with work authorization filing history. Employers already familiar with F-1 authorization are less likely to withdraw an offer when you explain CPT paperwork requirements. Filter by role title and metro area to identify companies hiring in your target market before you reach out.
What job duties on a Robotics Engineer CPT role satisfy the integral curriculum requirement?
Duties that map directly to your coursework satisfy the requirement. Examples include designing control algorithms, programming robotic arms or autonomous systems, running simulations in ROS or MATLAB, and testing embedded hardware. The O*NET profile for Robotics Engineers lists core tasks you can cross-reference against your course syllabi to build a strong CPT justification for your DSO.
Can I switch Robotics Engineer CPT employers mid-semester if a better offer comes in?
You can switch employers, but each new employer requires a separate CPT authorization on a new or amended I-20. Your DSO must approve the change before you start at the new company. Working for the new employer even one day before receiving the updated I-20 is an unauthorized employment violation, so plan for at least one to two weeks of processing time.