Field Engineering Technician

Instawork’s on-demand labor marketplace is uniquely valuable for robotics and physical AI. We’re working with leading frontier labs to create the highest-quality, highest-diversity datasets for training robotics foundation models. Instawork Robotics is the human advantage in the robotics revolution. 

We are seeking a highly skilled, part-time Field Engineering Technician to manage the maintenance, calibration, and local deployment of a fleet of 600 custom wearable camera rigs. Unlike standard IT support, this role sits at the intersection of precision electronics, mechanical assembly, and field operations. You will be the primary guardian of our hardware integrity, ensuring that high-stakes egocentric data collection continues without interruption across various deployment sites.

About IRL

Researchers at UC Berkeley have identified a “100,000-year data gap” - the gulf between what trained AI language models and what physical robots actually have to learn from. Closing that gap is the defining infrastructure challenge of the physical AI era. IRL is Instawork’s answer to it. We deploy skilled workers into real commercial and residential environments - kitchens, warehouses, hotel floors, homes - to capture the high-fidelity task data that the world’s leading Robotics labs use to train their foundation models. Read more here.

Who You Are:

A problem-solver who enjoys troubleshooting, working with physical devices, and finding creative solutions to problems quickly. 

• Education: ITI or Diploma in Electronics, Mechatronics, or Electrical Engineering.
• Experience: proven background in repairing "small-form-factor" electronics (e.g., smartphones, drones, or action cameras)
• Technical Skills: high dexterity with precision hand tools, multimeters, and soldering stations
• Safety: deep understanding of ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) safety protocols
• Software: comfortable navigating Linux/Windows-based diagnostic shells and firmware update tools.
• Mobility must possess a valid two-wheeler license and a personal vehicle for local travel.
• A hard worker who is comfortable working in new and different field environments, and adapting to new hardware and systems. 
• An operator who is experienced with the basics of hardware maintenance and support.
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Nice-to-haves:

Experience supporting robotics, sensors, wearables, cameras, or prototype hardware systems. Experience with firmware flashing, Linux, Android, embedded devices, or basic networking. Experience at an early-stage or mid-stage startup. Basic electrical, mechanical, or hardware assembly experience. Comfort building with AI tools like Cursor and Claude Code

What You’ll Do:

• Field Hardware Support. Maintain and troubleshoot deployed data collection systems, including cameras, sensors, batteries, storage media, cables, mounts, and wearable equipment.
• Device Configuration. Perform hardware setup, provisioning, firmware flashing, software updates, calibration, and readiness checks prior to deployment.
• Issue Resolution. Diagnose and resolve day-to-day technical issues in the field, document recurring failures, and escalate more complex problems to engineering teams.
• Repair & Refurbishment. Replace damaged or worn components, manage spare parts inventory, and prepare returned systems for rapid redeployment.
• Operator Enablement. Support field operators with fit adjustments, setup guidance, charging workflows, and best practices to ensure reliable data capture.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration. Coordinate with robotics leadership, data ops, QA, and engineering teams to continuously improve hardware reliability, usability, and field performance.