Robotics - Ingram Hall Makerspace Student Worker | Fall 2026
The Ingram School of Engineering Makerspace is where engineering leaves the textbook and lands in your hands. It's a space built by Bobcats, for Bobcats, and it runs on what students like you bring to it. You'll have access to premium tools and facilities, monthly credits for your own projects, and a team that cares about getting better at engineering together.
What We're Looking For
Not much on paper. We care that you're curious, that you show up and do the work, and that you can't help talking about what excites you - a robot, a rocket, or the simple physics behind why something works.
Show us what you've built
Projects — robots, electronics, personal builds, competition entries — tell us more than a resume ever could. This is a competitive spot, and the students who stand out can point to something they made and explain how they made it.
AI
We use AI tools every day and we're all for it, but there's a difference between using a tool and hiding behind one. What matters is that you understand the tech underneath: how it works, why it works, and when it's wrong. AI fluency isn't required and it's no substitute for the fundamentals. Use it, be smart about it, be transparent.
Summary
The student worker supports daily operations while helping expand our robotics platforms and the electronics behind them. Under the guidance of experienced students, faculty, and staff, you'll work hands-on with ROS2-based systems across a growing fleet — robotic arms, drones, quadrupeds, and humanoids — on Linux/Ubuntu. You'll train and mentor fellow students, document what you build, and bring creative design thinking to what our community can prototype. The best fit treats this like a junior research role: curious, self-directed, safety-conscious, and eager to turn ideas into working robots.
Responsibilities:
- Provide support and manage daily operations
- Onboard, configure, calibrate, and maintain robotics platforms
- Build, wire, test, and troubleshoot electronics: sensors, actuators, microcontrollers, and custom circuits
- Train students on robotics systems, ROS2 workflows, and Linux-based development
- Assist users with hardware setup, sensor integration, ROS2 programming, and troubleshooting
- Prototype and iterate to expand the makerspace's robotics capabilities
- Document builds, configurations, and maintenance so the team can reproduce and build on your work
- Maintain equipment and enforce safety protocols, including around larger legged and humanoid platforms
- Monitor and maintain inventory of components, electronics, and supplies
Qualifications:
Required:
- Punctuality, reliability, and a strong work ethic
- Familiarity with Linux or prior participation in a robotics competition (FRC, FTC, VEX, BEST, RoboCup, or similar)
- A creative, design-thinking mindset and eagerness to push technical boundaries
- Strong communication skills — able to explain technical concepts to fellow students
- Excellent attention to detail and safety consciousness
- A portfolio of past projects — robotics, electronics, personal builds, or competition work you can show and talk through
Strongly preferred / a plus:
- Experience with ROS2 (or ROS), from coursework, competition, internship, or personal projects
- Programming in Python and/or C/C++
- Hands-on electronics: circuit design, soldering, sensor, actuator wiring, etc.
- Exposure to sensor integration (LiDAR, cameras, IMUs), SLAM, navigation, or motion control
- Familiarity with microcontrollers/single-board computers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Jetson, etc.)
- Comfort using AI tools thoughtfully - as an aid to understanding, not a replacement for it
- Hobby experience in mechatronics, controls, or embedded systems
On-Campus Location: Bruce and Gloria Ingram Hall, Rm1201
Direct Supervisor: Abhimanyu Sharotry; absharotry@txstate.edu
Work Schedule: The students in this position are expected to work 5+ hours per week and must be available to work on Fridays.
Evaluation Process: Interview selection and decisions will be communicated to applicants through Handshake.
Timeline:
- Review Submissions: All submissions will be reviewed by Sep 7
- Initial Interviews: Schedule interviews continuously as applications come in
- Final Decision: Make the final decision by Sep 7
Post-Hiring:
- Supervisor will hold weekly meetings to assess student performance
- Detailed evaluations will be conducted at the end of each long semester
- Pay Rate Determination: The starting pay rate is $14/hr., based on relevant skills and experience with makerspace equipment. Increases may occur based on performance or a positive evaluation after one semester.