INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Machine Learning Research Intern (Reinforcement/Imitation Learning)

CompanySanctuary AI
LocationVancouver
Work ModeOn Site
PostedMay 11, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
Design and implement state-of-the-art Reinforcement Learning and Imitation Learning algorithms for humanoid robots. Develop training and data-collection pipelines to facilitate the deployment of robotic manipulation tasks in real-world settings.
Internship Type
internship
Company Size
Not specified
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
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About The Company

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About the Role
Your New Role and Team
Sanctuary AI, a world leader in building dexterity-driven Physical AI for general purpose robots, is looking to hire a skilled and motivated intern to join our ML team and contribute to our team’s work in engineering and innovating unique robotic manipulation tasks.

Reporting to the RL Lead, you will have the opportunity to tackle a variety of challenges related to the perception, planning, and motion systems for humanoid general-purpose robots. 

The best candidates for this role have excellent software development and machine learning skills as well as hands-on experience with robotics. In this role you’ll be a valued contributor and you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the design, architecture, and implementation of the simulation platform and machine learning systems that power our general-purpose robots. 

We are flexible regarding both the internship start date and the duration of the term.

Our Success Criteria
  • Design, implement, and improve state-of-the-art Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Imitation Learning (IL) algorithms and test them in real-world settings
  • Keep up to date with state-of-the-art RL/IL methodologies and robotics
  • Identify, communicate, and drive promising research directions to the team
  • Find ways of improving existing implementations of RL/IL pipelines with regards to standard metrics such as sample efficiency, speed, computational resource usage, and scalability
  • Design RL/IL training and data-collection pipelines to facilitate fast deployment on physical robots
  • Work with a multidisciplinary team to develop novel algorithms and investigate sources of errors with existing implementations

Your Experience
Desired Qualifications
  • Pursuing MS or Ph.D. in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Applied Math, or related field
  • Experience implementing a variety of RL and IL methods with a focus in a specialization such as computer vision or robotics
  • Hands-on experience integrating ML models onto a robotics platform
  • Experience implementing and deploying (dexterous) robotic manipulation tasks in simulation and on physical robots 
  • Experience taking ML R&D and trained models into production
  • Experience with computer vision systems
  • Experience in simulation-to-reality transfer learning

Skills
  • Development with Python 3.6 or later
  • Working knowledge of PyTorch and/or JAX
  • Familiarity with ROS2
  • Extensive knowledge of RL/IL principles and use

Traits
  • 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

Key Skills
PythonPyTorchJAXROS2Reinforcement LearningImitation LearningComputer VisionRoboticsSimulation-to-Reality TransferRobotic Manipulation
Categories
TechnologyEngineeringScience & ResearchSoftwareData & Analytics