Sensor Systems Intern (Robotics)

Location: Hybrid in San Francisco, CA

Company

hirify.global develops autonomous systems for heavy construction equipment, deploying AI-powered machines on real-world job sites to improve safety and accelerate infrastructure projects.

What you will do

• Analyze sensor coverage, occlusion, blind spots, field of view, range, and coverage geometry for new machine platforms.
• Build and extend Python tooling to model sensor configurations and support coverage analysis.
• Run trade studies balancing performance, cost, durability, and mounting constraints.
• Prototype mounting concepts and validate sensor coverage assumptions on actual construction equipment.
• Translate analysis into sensor requirements and specifications for the hardware team.
• Collaborate with perception, hardware, and safety teams on sensor suite design.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mechatronics, robotics, computer science, or a related discipline, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Strong understanding of 3D geometry, coordinate frames, and transforms.
• Python skills for analysis and tooling.
• CAD fluency sufficient to reason about physical hardware placement.
• Willingness to visit mock construction sites and test sensor configurations.

Nice to have

• Experience with device physics, ray tracing, rendering, or coverage simulation.
• Familiarity with autonomous vehicle sensor suites.
• Exposure to heavy equipment or off-road machinery.

Culture & Benefits

• Work at the intersection of sensor physics, autonomy systems architecture, mechanical integration, and design.
• Collaborate with construction specialists and engineers on physical-world autonomy problems.
• Contribute to autonomous excavator deployments and other real-world construction systems.
• Inclusive workplace with equal employment opportunities and reasonable accommodations during the hiring process.