We've been overwhelmed by the interest in Imitation Machines and are grateful for the enthusiasm from the ML and robotics community! While we have only a limited number of paid internship positions available, we also offer a small number of unpaid, learning-focused internships for individuals eager to gain hands-on experience in imitation learning and robotics. These roles are designed as educational placements, providing close mentorship, real project exposure, and skill building opportunities that can lead to future paid positions within our growing team.
This position represents an opportunity for enthusiastic intern(s) to get hands-on experience in Robot Learning, Robotics Software and/or Imitation Learning. As we move forward developing our Robot Learning Platform we meet challenges across various domains of technology, and we need people with passion and knowledge in: imitation / reinforcement / machine learning, robotics software, integration, UI, and more to advance our mission.
The scope of work ranges from setting up robot simulation frameworks, developing software for robot integration and human demonstration data collection, and developing the supporting code base to designing novel machine learning algorithms, training ml model, and deploying these models on robots.
You will be working closely with and mentored by the founding members of the team. Joining at this early stage will allow you to play a key role in shaping the technical layer of Imitation Machines and take part in the daily life of a deep tech startup.
About Imitation Machines
Imitation Machines has an ambitious goal of bringing the latest advances in Imitation and Reinforcement Learning, Robotics and AI into an integrated platform that enables anyone in the world to create robot new and custom behaviours.
Imagine the state of future technology where anyone can teach any robot, by demonstration, to solve any task they need, and create intelligent robotic workforce that meets unique needs across industries, robot forms, and environments. We want this future to happen. We see that all the necessary technological prerequisites are in place, and we're building that future. The readiness of reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and robot hardware has reached a tipping point, positioning Imitation Machines to transform how robot behaviours are created. Rather than relying on conventional programming, we can radically accelerate the process and start building systems where robots are taught by human teachers through demonstration.
We're taking a practice-first approach: real-world robot deployments with our industry partners guide our research and development. By working directly with industries, robot developers, and system integrators, we position ourselves at the frontier of practical imitation learning—tackling the challenges that emerge when these technologies meet real applications. This makes us early integrators of imitation learning in production environments, and it's how we're paving the way for broader adoption of robotic automation.
Imitation Machines is a pre-seed funded startup moving quickly toward our next milestone. We're laser-focused on proving our vision and building a team of machines learning and robotics engineers who want to push the boundaries of what's possible in robot learning.
What we’re looking for
Strong understanding and hands-on experience with Deep Reinforcement Learning algorithms, ideally applied to robotics
Solid grasp of Machine Learning concepts
Familiarity with ROS (Robot Operating System)
Some experience working on robotics projects
Self-driven builder mentality – experimenting, making things happen, thriving on challenges, and breaking new ground
Position details
Level: Internship
Type: Part-time
Length of engagement: 6 months or more (not shorter)
Minimal time commitment: 2 days / week
Compensation: Unpaid internship
Remote work: Theoretical, algorithms, and in-simulation work can be done remotely and we do consider fully remote candidates. While based in Sydney is preferred for hardware testing and integration, we welcome strong interstate candidates. This is a remote / hybrid position for candidates based in Australia, if you are outside Australia please apply here instead: https://app.dover.com/apply/Imitation%20Machines/0904943b-ec63-4152-9598-d487be8c3ac7/?rs=76643084
Primary location: Sydney, Australia
Notes
Imitation Machines is open to and welcomes collaborations with universities.
Skills Required
- Strong understanding and hands-on experience with Deep Reinforcement Learning algorithms
- Solid grasp of Machine Learning concepts
- Familiarity with ROS (Robot Operating System)
- Some experience working on robotics projects
- Self-driven builder mentality; ability to experiment and independently deliver
- Availability for minimum 2 days per week for at least 6 months
What We Do
Imitation Machines provides a Robot Learning Platform that enables robots to acquire complex behaviors through imitation and reinforcement learning. By allowing robots to learn from human demonstrations rather than manual programming, they make advanced robotic technology accessible across various sectors, including manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and logistics, transforming how robot behaviors are created and shaped.
