R&D Electrical Testing Intern

About Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics is a world leader in mobile robotics, pushing the limits of what robots can do with a commitment to developing machines that move with agility, dexterity, and speed. Our Atlas robot represents the cutting edge of humanoid robotics - a platform that demands equally advanced electrical systems, rigorous testing discipline, and engineering innovation at every level. The Atlas Prototype Operations team is responsible for the full prototype value chain: from supply chain and build through fleet management, service & repair, and quality & test engineering. 

The Opportunity

As an R&D Electrical Testing Intern on the Atlas Prototype Operations team, you will work alongside world-class engineers to develop, execute, and improve electrical test processes for one of the most sophisticated humanoid robots ever built. This is a hands-on, high-impact role - you will be working directly with hardware, contributing to real test infrastructure, and helping ensure the quality and reliability of Atlas actuator and electronics systems at scale. This internship is designed for students who thrive in fast-paced environments, are comfortable with ambiguity, and want to leave the summer having built and shipped something real.

What You'll Do

 •       Design, build, and execute electrical test procedures for Atlas actuator assemblies, PCBs, and power electronics

 •       Operate and maintain actuator test stands and other automated test infrastructure

•         Analyze test data to identify failure modes, trends, and yield improvement opportunities

•       Contribute to test fixture development and tooling improvements that increase throughput and repeatability

•       Document test results, failure reports, and process deviations in accordance with quality standards

•       Support root cause analysis (RCA) efforts on electrical failures in coordination with service & repair engineers

•       Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to close feedback loops on component and assembly issues

•       Participate in daily build and fleet operations standups to understand real-time production context   

 What We're Looking For

Required

•         Enrolled in a BS or MS program in Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, or a closely related field

•       Hands-on experience with electrical test equipment: oscilloscopes, bench power supplies, multimeters, function generators

•       Familiarity with PCB assembly, soldering, and basic hardware debugging

•       Comfort working in a lab environment with physical hardware and electromechanical systems

•       Strong analytical skills and attention to detail - you care about data quality and traceability

•       Clear written and verbal communication skills; able to document technical findings concisely  

Preferred

 •       Experience with motor drives, servo systems, or power electronics testing

•       Familiarity with CAN bus, RS-485, EtherCAT, or other industrial communication protocols

•       Programming experience in Python for data analysis, test automation, or tooling

•       Prior experience in a robotics, aerospace, automotive, or advanced manufacturing lab environment

•       Exposure to FMEA, control plans, or structured quality methodologies

•       Experience with data visualization tools (Grafana, Tableau, or similar)

What You'll Gain

This is not a shadow internship. You will own real deliverables and see your work in production.

•       Direct exposure to humanoid robot hardware at a scale few organizations in the world can offer

•       Experience designing and executing electrical test processes in a high-velocity prototype manufacturing environment

•       Mentorship from senior test, quality, and manufacturing engineers with deep robotics domain expertise

•       Understanding of the full prototype value chain - from build through fleet ops and repair

•       A portfolio-ready project with measurable outcomes you can speak to in future interviews