Apprentice - Experimentation & Systems Engineering

About Origin

Origin (previously 10xConstruction) is building general-purpose autonomous robots for US construction to tackle rising costs, safety risks, and labour shortages. Our modular, multi-trade platform combines purpose-built hardware with real-time site intelligence to navigate complex environments and execute tasks with precision. Trained in high-fidelity simulation and already deployed on live sites, our robots deliver 5x faster execution, 250%+ margin expansion, and significant cost savings. Join India’s most talent-dense robotics team consisting of individuals from IITs, Stanford, UCLA, etc.

About the role

Robotic drywall finishing is a hard, unsolved problem — and you'll be in the thick of solving it. Working alongside our process and robotics engineers, you'll design controlled experiments, instrument physical trials, and extract insights that shape how our system evolves. If you think like an experimentalist and want your work to matter on day one, this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and run controlled experiments on robotic drywall finishing processes using hypothesis-driven and DOE-based approaches

• Identify and isolate independent, dependent, controlled, and confounding variables across physical trials

• Set up instrumentation and measurement workflows; maintain repeatability and reproducibility discipline

• Document observations rigorously and convert trial results into clear experiment logs, test reports, and result summaries

• Analyse cross-system interactions across the robot arm, end-effector, sensors, surface material, and motion parameters to support debugging and process improvement

Requirements

Required Qualifications and Skills

• B.E./B.Tech/M.E./M.Tech in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Robotics, Electrical/Electronics, Industrial, Aerospace, or Systems Engineering (candidates from Applied Sciences / Experimental Physics with strong engineering exposure may also be considered)
• 6 months to 2 years of hands-on industry or research experience in an engineering or robotics environment
• Demonstrated experimentation experience in a research lab environment is required
• Understanding of experimental methods, control systems, statistics/DOE, and system design through coursework or projects
• Basic knowledge of robotics systems, electromechanical assemblies, sensors, instrumentation, and calibration concepts
• Ability to work with engineering data from physical trials and perform basic statistical analysis and interpretation
• Strong documentation skills — ability to produce structured test reports, experiment logs, and result summaries

Preferred Experiences

• Prior experience with imaging-based experimentation setups (computer vision, machine vision, optical measurement, etc.)
• Hands-on experience with robotics or automation systems — ROS, UR systems, or similar.
• Experience with test setup design, instrumentation, or validation workflows.
• Familiarity with Excel/Google Sheets, Python, or MATLAB for experiment logging, data analysis, and plotting.
• Exposure to CAD tools (SolidWorks / Fusion 360 / Onshape) and documentation tools (Notion, Confluence, Jira, or Google Docs).

Benefits

This is a six-month contract-to-hire position, with potential for longer-term opportunities depending on your contributions and interests. We're excited to work with motivated individuals who are eager to support real-world robot development and grow alongside us.

• Gain experience in a dynamic startup environment at the forefront of robotics and AI innovation.
• Contribute to the development of technology that will revolutionize the construction industry.
• Work alongside a talented and passionate team committed to making a real-world impact.
• Learn from experienced professionals and gain valuable skills in robotics software engineering.
• Gain practical experience in a real-world engineering environment.
• Contribute to a project with the potential to make a significant impact on the construction industry.