The Role
This internship focuses on designing user experiences for robots in factories, developing digital interfaces, and prototyping UX concepts.
Summary Generated by Built In
At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we’re on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We’re developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience. To lead this transformative shift in mobility, we’ve built a world-class team in Automated Driving, Energy & Materials, Human-Centered AI, Human Interactive Driving, Large Behavior Models, and Robotics.
This is a summer 2026 paid 12-week internship opportunity. Please note that this internship will be an in-office role.
The Internship
This internship will be embedded within the Robotics User Experience team, with the mission to design intuitive physical and digital experiences for managing and interacting with robots in a factory context. This internship will be an opportunity to explore applying the principles of user experience design in some of the following areas:
Digital interfaces for managing a fleet of mobile robots within a factory setting. Tools for assisting factory team members in assuring the quality of manufactured parts. Physical and digital methods for interacting with robots (and for robots to interact with humans).Extending a platform for prototyping and testing robotics UX concepts.
The Team
The Robotics UX team is made up of UX designers, researchers, and engineers, and is based in TRI’s Los Altos, CA office. We research and design robot interfaces for the manufacturing environment, and contribute directly to the design of robot prototypes for both research and applied projects.
Qualifications
- Recent grad or pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in HCI, Interaction Design, or a related field.
- A portfolio that demonstrates the user-centered design process and includes prototypes of varying fidelity.
- Able to work independently with some guidance from senior design staff; demonstrates a good understanding of best practices in design methodologies and tools.
- A keen eye for visual design and the ability to produce pixel-perfect design specifications.
- Experience in Figma, with a solid understanding of industry standards and features. Able to design a variety of UX artifacts, including personas, user journeys, prototypes, presentations, and UI mock-ups.
- Hands-on experience with a design system, and a strong grasp of best practices to ensure consistency within the team and across projects.
- Comfortable in a collaborative, interdisciplinary team environment with excellent visual, verbal, and written communication skills; comfortable receiving and incorporating constructive feedback.
Bonus Qualifications
- Experience designing interfaces & interactions for a physical device, such as a robot.
- Experience using Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or other microcontrollers for prototyping interactions.
The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $45 and $65/hour for California-based roles. Base pay offered will depend on multiple individualized factors, including, but not limited to, business or organizational needs, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. TRI offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, and paid time off benefits (including holiday pay and sick time). Additional details regarding these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
Please reference this Candidate Privacy Notice to inform you of the categories of personal information that we collect from individuals who inquire about and/or apply to work for Toyota Research Institute, Inc. or its subsidiaries, including Toyota A.I. Ventures GP, L.P., and the purposes for which we use such personal information.
TRI is fueled by a diverse and inclusive community of people with unique backgrounds, education and life experiences. We are dedicated to fostering an innovative and collaborative environment by living the values that are an essential part of our culture. We believe diversity makes us stronger and are proud to provide Equal Employment Opportunity for all, without regard to an applicant’s race, color, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, religion, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state or local laws.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.
Top Skills
Arduino
Figma
Raspberry Pi
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The Company
What We Do
Toyota Research Institute (TRI) envisions a future where Toyota products, enabled by TRI technology, dramatically improve quality of life for individuals and society. To achieve its Vision, TRI’s Mission is to create new tools and capabilities focused on improving the human condition through research in Energy & Materials, Human-centered AI, Human Interactive Driving, and Robotics.
We’re on a mission to improve the quality of human life. To lead this transformative shift, we are looking for the world's best talent -- people who enjoy solving tough problems while having fun doing it.
Why Work With Us
TRI is fueled by a diverse and inclusive community of people with unique backgrounds, education and life experiences. We are dedicated to fostering an innovative and collaborative environment by living the values that are an essential part of our culture.
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