---
title: 'Intern - Mechanical Engineer at Human Computer Lab'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/intern-mechanical-engineer-human-computer-lab-san-francisco-4dq9hpk53nre'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-04'
---

# Intern - Mechanical Engineer at Human Computer Lab

- **Company:** Human Computer Lab
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Employment:** internship
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-05-14
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-04
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/human-computer-lab/63a06836-54f4-4475-9e03-007ce5afc04c

## Job description

Human Computer Lab is a research lab building character robots that feel alive and responsive. Our first robot, LeLamp, explores a new category of consumer robotics where everyday objects become interactive and help us reshape our attachment to technology.

Our goal is to push the frontier of human-robot interaction by making technology more legible, emotionally intuitive, and human-centered. We are building the foundation for a new generation of robots designed for everyday environments.

What to expect

In this role, you will be responsible for building the robotics hardware systems that power robot expression, communication, and behavior. You will work closely with ML/software engineers to build real-time robotics systems, and integrate robotic hardware with machine learning — turning research and simulation into reliable, production-ready robots.

In this role, you will:

- Develop robotic hardware that physically expresses perception, intelligence, and behavior
- Build robotic hardware that supports tasks such as computer vision, audio processing, and interaction understanding
- Integrate ML systems with robotic hardware and embedded systems
- Improve robot perception, responsiveness, and expression
- Collaborate with ML/software engineers to build expressive robotics systems

You may be a good fit if you:

- Are pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field
- Have experience designing robotics hardware and electronics
- Have experience in prototyping and building with microcontrollers, embedded systems, and PCBs
- Have strong CAD skills using tools such as Onshape, SolidWorks, Fusion360, or similar, as well as proficiency in 3D printing
- Have experience with human computer interaction as it relates to robots, especially robots in the home
- Are comfortable jumping into unfamiliar systems and can create order through chaos.
- Care about users and feel ownership over outcomes, even for systems you don't own.
- Think holistically about systems and approach complex problems with creative, outside-the-box solutions.

You will be a strong fit, if you:

- Are passionate about building and experimenting with hardware
- Move quickly and work well in rapid iteration cycles.
- Take ownership over the systems they design and build.
- Are curious, resourceful, and motivated to solve difficult problems.
- Work well in small, collaborative teams.
- Consider not just what immediately works, but how consumers will engage with robots.

The early team becomes the DNA of the company. We set ourselves and others to a high standard, and we respond with kindness when things get hard but keep everyone accountable. This requires us to be curious, creative, and diverse in our thinking and approach.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. Studies show that women and underrepresented groups often hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria - we don’t want that to be the reason we miss out on great talent.

## About Human Computer Lab

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Human Computer Lab is a research and experimentation lab focused on researching and building expressive robots that reshape human attachment to technology.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Pre-seed stage)
- **Headquarters**: Newark, Delaware, United States (with presence in Canada)
- **Founded**: Not publicly available
- **Founders**: Shahvir Sarkary (Founder, CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Robotics, Human-Computer Interaction, Research Services
- **Target customers**: B2C (early adopters, hobbyists, artists, roboticists) and potentially B2B (research partners)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "Human–computer research and experimentation lab, focused on researching and building expressive robots."

## Products & Services
- **[LeLamp](https://www.lelamp.com/)**: An emotional and expressive robot designed to reshape human attachment to technology. Pre-orders are currently open. The product aims to make building a robot feel like assembling IKEA furniture.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding – Pre-seed round led by FR8 and South Park Commons (announced September 2025)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: FR8, South Park Commons
- **Growth Signals**: Active hiring for multiple roles (Controls Engineer, ML Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Interns); growing social media presence and hosting community events (Demo Faires, artist-roboticist collectives); monthly LinkedIn follower growth of ~7.8%

## Competitive Advantages
- **Unique focus on emotional expressiveness**: LeLamp is positioned as a robot that conveys emotion and personality, differentiating it from utilitarian or industrial robots.
- **Research-driven approach**: The lab conducts human-computer research to inform robot design, blending art and engineering.
- **Accessibility ethos**: They aim to make robot building as simple as assembling IKEA furniture, lowering the barrier for entry.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Scaling LeLamp from pilot to production; building a community around expressive robotics; expanding the team with engineering and growth talent.
- **Direction for growth**: Continued research into springiness, damping, and life-like movement; hosting events to foster a collective of artists and roboticists.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture highlights**: Small, tight-knit team (5–6 employees) with a strong emphasis on creativity, experimentation, and joy in building robots. The lab hosts science-fair style Demo Faires and encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- **Remote/hybrid/office policy**: Hybrid workspace – employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work. Offices in Newark, Delaware (US) and likely Toronto (Canada).
- **Notable perks or engineering culture**: Hands-on work with expressive robotics, opportunity to shape early product direction, exposure to cutting-edge HCI research, and a culture that values “taste” and wholesome robot interactions.

## Sources
1. [humancomputerlab.com](https://www.humancomputerlab.com/)
2. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/human-computer-lab](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/human-computer-lab)
3. [builtin.com/company/human-computer-lab](https://builtin.com/company/human-computer-lab)
4. [linkedin.com/company/humancomputerlab](https://www.linkedin.com/company/humancomputerlab)
5. [research.humancomputerlab.com](https://research.humancomputerlab.com/)

## Other roles at Human Computer Lab

- [Intern - Industrial Designer](https://feeny.ai/job/intern-industrial-designer-human-computer-lab-san-francisco-sah410f831c9) — San Francisco, CA
- [Intern - Animator and Rigging Artist](https://feeny.ai/job/intern-animator-and-rigging-artist-human-computer-lab-san-francisco-1f9hfxwggdaj) — San Francisco, CA
- [Character Artist](https://feeny.ai/job/character-artist-human-computer-lab-san-francisco-26j4s69r8bva) — San Francisco, CA
- [Supply Chain Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/supply-chain-engineer-human-computer-lab-san-francisco-q0nk1qctstc9) — San Francisco, CA
- [Perception Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/perception-engineer-human-computer-lab-san-francisco-4cbh6w64pvp5) — San Francisco, CA
- [Intern - Controls Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/intern-controls-engineer-human-computer-lab-san-francisco-w4wm7p7md9s4) — San Francisco, CA
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- [Intern - Growth](https://feeny.ai/job/intern-growth-human-computer-lab-san-francisco-zb9dbrz2h03z) — San Francisco, CA