Firmware Engineering Intern, Sanctuary AI
Jan 2026 - Aug 2026
Human-like intelligence robotics
Be an early applicant
Human-like intelligence robotics
101-200 employees
Be an early applicant
101-200 employees
Company mission
To create the world’s first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots at a time that is right to make it happen.
Role
Who you are
- Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in electrical/computer engineering, computer science, mechatronics engineering, engineering physics, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
- Fluency with C/C++ for embedded systems, and ability to deliver high-quality code
- Knowledge of ARM or equivalent embedded microcontroller architectures
- Knowledge of software version control such as git
- Experience interfacing with sensors through communication protocols such as I2C/SPI/CAN/Ethercat
- Experience developing in an RTOS environment and writing low-level drivers
- Experience developing in a linux based environment
- Fluency with using oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers and various other electrical engineering tools
- Proven track record of delivering high quality design documentation, test reports, and other documentation
- Above all else, a consistently positive attitude and a willingness to do whatever it takes to create robust solutions to complex problems
- Optimistic listening and conflict resolution capabilities
- Demonstrated ability to influence others without authority
- Eager to take on new challenges with tenacity and positivity
- Patience, persistence, and attention to detail when resolving performance issues
- Obsession with bringing human-like intelligence to machines
What the job involves
- Sanctuary AI–a multi award-winning LinkedIn Top Startup company - is looking to hire a firmware engineering intern
- The Embedded Systems team is composed of both electronics and firmware engineers
- The team works closely together to create custom products to be consumed by other teams such as Controls and ML
- Our Success Criteria:
- Develop firmware for a variety of embedded systems as well as maintain and update existing firmware systems as needed
- Collaborate with the electrical and mechanical team to develop robust embedded systems
- Work with electrical and firmware team to develop and complete device/system test plans
- Develop unit tests in C/C++ for new or existing firmware
- Develop HIL tests and infrastructure
- Develop drivers for sensors/components
- Electrical tests and debug with standard tools (oscilloscope, logic analyzer, in-circuit debug, digital multimeter, etc)
Our take
Sanctuary has set itself the ambitious task of developing human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots, intending to complement the human labor market - and eventually helping humans settle in outer space. Its robots are modelled on the size and shape of humans, and their cognitive architecture is based on the subsystems of the human brain. The hope is that this puts the so-far elusive artificial general intelligence (AGI) in closer reach.
It’s a challenging mission, but the Sanctuary team have remarkable expertise and experience. Before Sanctuary, the founders launched deep tech robotics company Kindred with backing from the likes of Google and Bloomberg Beta. Whilst it was eventually bought out by Ocado, Sanctuary was designed to pick up where Kindred’s early research left off.
Some critics suggest that Sanctuary’s technology isn’t anything new - just yet. Nor has any company promising AGI (including Tesla) offered up material results. There’s also some question as to whether AGI, technologically glamorous though it may be, is better than highly specialised systems. If it can be done, however, there’s no doubt it’ll prove a remarkable deep-tech breakthrough.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
81% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (2 rounds)
Dec 2022
$30m
GRANT
Mar 2022
$58.5m
SERIES A
Total funding: $88.5m
Company HQ
Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, BC
Leadership
Geordie Rose
(CEO)A Doctor of Theoretical Physics, who subsequently founded and served as CTO of quantum computing systems and software company D-Wave Systems, before moving on to co-found Kindred.ai.
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