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Human-Robot Interaction Specialist

New York, NY

Job Description

We are looking for talented and driven Human-Robot Interaction Specialists to design and implement the future of human-machine collaboration. This multidisciplinary role covers the entire development lifecycle, from conceptualizing and prototyping new interaction models to refining them for production. The ideal candidate thinks deeply about empathetic interactions between humans and computers while also rolling up their sleeves and building software systems from the ground up.

In this role, you will work closely with researchers and engineers at the forefront of robotics and bring the work to life on Fauna’s robot platform. If you are excited about working at the intersection of the digital and the physical, and especially if you are interested in how modern AI technologies meet the real world, we would love to hear from you!

A portfolio of academic research or industry projects demonstrating work on interactive experiences is highly encouraged.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design and build novel interactions on prototype hardware that drive toward seamless and intuitive human-robot coexistence.
  • Develop and implement solutions across the human-robot interaction domain, such as reasoning and human understanding, using a Python and C++ stack.
  • Partner with research and engineering teams to produce prototypes, demos, and experiences that advance the state of knowledge of human-robot interaction.

Required Skills & Qualifications

  • Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field – or equivalent practical experience.
  • Work Experience: 2+ years of professional software development experience, or PhD-level research experience.
  • Technical Expertise:
    • Proven experience developing successful interactive systems as demonstrated through a portfolio of work or research contributions in relevant venues (e.g. CHI, HRI, UIST).
    • Strong programming skills, especially in rapidly prototyping novel experiences. Python/C++ is preferred, but not required.
    • Deep understanding of human-computer interaction design principles, and demonstrated evidence of producing delightful interactions.

Nice-to-have Skills

  • Deep experience with modern HCI tools: large language models, voice-based interactions, gesture-based interfaces, haptics, or multimodal interaction.
  • Experience with Unity, Unreal, or other real-time game engines in AR or VR.
  • Experience with robotics, ROS/ROS2, IoT, or other physical computing platforms (microcomputers, microcontrollers).
  • Experience conducting research evaluations with human participants.
  • Familiarity with design tools, such as Figma or Blender.

What We Offer

  • The opportunity to work on groundbreaking robotics technology, enabling the next generation of humanoid robots to interact dynamically with their environments.
  • A collaborative and innovative environment that fosters creativity and exploration.
  • Equity ownership in the company
  • Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, and Vision)

Compensation

$100k - $200k/yr, plus equity

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