--- title: 'Robotics Test & Validation Intern at Contoro Inc.' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/robotics-test-validation-intern-contoro-inc-austin-nd5td8hgn463' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-08' --- # Robotics Test & Validation Intern at Contoro Inc. - **Company:** Contoro Inc. - **Location:** Austin, TX - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-08-04 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/contoro/7de98745-6a26-4a96-b82c-0cecf4900eb1 ## Job description JOIN CONTORO ROBOTICS – REVOLUTIONIZING WAREHOUSE AUTOMATION WITH CUTTING-EDGE ROBOTICS At Contoro Robotics, we're on a mission to solve labor challenges through advanced robotic solutions. Headquartered in Austin, TX, our fast-growing startup is transforming the supply chain industry with our flagship warehouse automation technology. Our team is made up of top-tier experts in robotics, AI, and logistics, working together to push the boundaries of automation. We’re looking for talented and ambitious individuals to join us on this journey—helping shape the future of robotics while growing alongside a world-class team. If you're passionate about innovation, problem-solving, and making a real-world impact, we want to hear from you! ## About Contoro Robotics is an Austin based startup focused on warehouse automation. We design a state-of-the-art autonomous truck unloading system capable of lifting boxes over 60 lbs. As a Test & Validation Intern, you'll be the person who runs our robots through structured test procedures and reports results that directly inform whether features ship to customer sites. You'll work closely with test engineers who designs the tests and feature owners who triage failures, ensuring our Systems and Automation teams have fast, reliable feedback on every change they make. This is a hands-on role — you will be working with real robots, real boxes, and real test data every day. In this role, you will: - Execute predefined test procedures across tiered test levels (from single-box handling to full simulated site conditions) - Record and report test results accurately, including logging failure modes, timestamps, and environmental conditions - Set up and tear down test environments per documented runbooks (conveyor configurations, box arrangements, sensor calibration checks) - Flag test failures and route them to feature owners with supporting data (logs, video, metrics) - Maintain test result dashboards so Systems, Automation, and Operations teams have real-time visibility into product readiness - Track regression by re-running previously passing tests after code or hardware changes - Assist test engineers with test environment maintenance and instrumentation upkeep - Document any test setup issues or runbook gaps encountered during execution You might thrive in this role if you: - Are pursuing a degree in robotics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field - Are detail-oriented and comfortable with repetitive, structured tasks that demand precision - Can clearly document and communicate what you observed versus what you expected - Have basic familiarity with Linux command line and can follow technical runbooks - Have exposure to ROS, sensor data, or robotic systems (preferred, not required) - Have experience working with ticket management systems like Jira (preferred, not required) - Can work on-site at Contoro's office in Austin, TX for the duration of the internship - Are available throughout two continuous terms (e.g., Spring + Summer Summer + Fall) ## About Contoro Inc. ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Contoro provides an AI-powered, human-in-the-loop robotics service to autonomously unload floor-loaded trailers and shipping containers for the logistics industry. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series A) - **Headquarters**: Austin, Texas, United States - **Founded**: 2022 - **Founders**: Youngmok "Mok" Yun (CEO) ## Core Business - **Primary Industry**: Robotics Engineering / Industrial Automation / Logistics - **Target Customers**: B2B (warehouses, distribution centers, freight companies, and supply chain operators) - **Mission**: To transform the future of work by delivering reliable, affordable, and safe robotics solutions, starting with the most physically demanding task in the supply chain – unloading non-palletized boxes from trucks and containers. ## Products & Services - **Autonomous Container & Trailer Unloading Service**: A robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) offering where a mobile robot autonomously enters a trailer or container, uses a patented articulated gripper (DuoGrasp) and a Kuka industrial arm to unload mixed-SKU boxes (8" to 30" in dimension, up to 65 lbs), and places them onto an onboard conveyor belt. The service is charged per container unloaded, with no upfront capital expense. - **Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) AI Platform**: A proprietary system that augments the robot's AI with remote human teleoperation for edge cases. This creates a continuous learning loop to improve AI reliability over time, targeting 99%+ success rates required for industrial use. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed - **Total Funding**: USD 22.0 million across 4 rounds: - Pre-Seed (2022): USD 1.3M led by Village Global - Seed (June 2023): USD 7.2M led by SV Investment Corp - Corporate Round: Led by Coupang (amount undisclosed) - Series A (April 2025): USD 13.5M led by Doosan Investment - **Key Metric**: 43 employees (as of mid-2025), with 83.3% year-over-year headcount growth - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Doosan Investment, SV Investment Corp, Coupang, Village Global - **Growth Signals**: 83.3% YoY headcount growth; active commercial pilot program for qualified customers; presence in the US, South Korea, UAE, and India; 4 active job postings (up 300% YoY). ## Competitive Advantages - **Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) Reliability**: Contoro's core moat is its ability to handle the "endless edge cases" of trailer unloading (diverse box sizes, containers, and layouts) by combining AI with remote human operators. This guarantees 99%+ reliability in real-world industrial environments, a bar that pure AI solutions struggle to meet. - **Patented Hardware**: The "DuoGrasp" articulated gripper provides a two-sided box grasp for stability, allowing the robot to handle heavy, multi-dimensional boxes without damage. - **No-Capex Business Model**: Charging per container unloaded (RaaS) removes the capital barrier for customers, making the service "affordable and predictable" and easy to scale up or down. - **Rapid Deployment**: The robot's mobile base and built-in connectivity allow it to be moved from dock to dock via remote control or forklift, with "short deployment time & high reliability from day 1." ## Strategic Focus - **Commercialization & Scaling**: The company is currently accepting qualified customers for a 12-week commercial pilot program, indicating a shift from R&D to market deployment. - **Vertical Expansion**: While starting with trailer/container unloading, the company's platform is designed to tackle other physically demanding tasks in logistics and beyond. - **AI Evolution**: Accelerating the AI learning loop through teleoperation data to reduce reliance on human operators over time. ## Why Work Here - **Cutting-Edge Technology**: Work on real-world AI and robotics problems (perception, motion planning, manipulation) with industrial-grade hardware (Kuka arms). - **High Growth Trajectory**: A Series A startup with 83% headcount growth and a clear path to commercial scale. The team is small (43 people), offering significant ownership and impact. - **Culture & Values**: The company emphasizes **Reliability**, **Collaboration**, **Commitment**, **Independent Problem Solving**, and **Contribution**. - **Benefits**: - 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance - 401k plan with matching - Flexible work hours - Pet-friendly office (Austin HQ) - Gym membership reimbursement - Continuous education support (book purchases, online courses, Lunch & Learns) - Employee recognition program with gift card rewards - Paid parental and marriage leave - **Work Model**: Office-based in Austin, Texas with flexible hours. The engineering culture is hands-on, with a focus on building and deploying real hardware. - **Global Exposure**: Offices in the US, South Korea, UAE, and India. ## Sources 1. [contoro.com](https://contoro.com/) 2. [contoro.com/about-us](https://contoro.com/about-us/) 3. [contoro.com/career](https://contoro.com/career/) 4. [linkedin.com/company/contoro-inc](https://www.linkedin.com/company/contoro-inc) 5. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/contoro](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/contoro) ## Other roles at Contoro Inc. - [Robotics Software Engineer, Autonomy Integration](https://feeny.ai/job/robotics-software-engineer-autonomy-integration-contoro-inc-austin-1f0ny694pbcq) — Austin, TX - [Business Development Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-manager-contoro-inc-buena-park-st7qdm7tjwmj) — Buena Park, CA - [Office & People Operations Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/office-people-operations-coordinator-contoro-inc-austin-pd6k8ys93tjr) — Austin, TX - [Sr. Robotics Engineer, Perception](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-robotics-engineer-perception-contoro-inc-austin-w7btpsjbn1qa) — Austin, TX - [Sr. Robotics Engineer, Motion Planning](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-robotics-engineer-motion-planning-contoro-inc-austin-k7sk7q61jxrg) — Austin, TX - [Data Engineer, Cloud Platform](https://feeny.ai/job/data-engineer-cloud-platform-contoro-inc-austin-1rh10zprevbv) — Austin, TX - [Robotics Engineer, Motion Planning](https://feeny.ai/job/robotics-engineer-motion-planning-contoro-inc-austin-g1xqjkwb34zj) — Austin, TX - [Robotics Engineer, Autonomy](https://feeny.ai/job/robotics-engineer-autonomy-contoro-inc-austin-07tcy2s2jy6x) — Austin, TX