So, You Want a Job in Robotics? Let me tell you something …

The robotics world is exploding, right? Everyone wants to be part of it. But let’s be honest, the old way of getting a job—just sending your resume—is not working anymore. Recruiters cannot manage the number of applications, and thanks to AI tools, they all look equally good (even if in reality they are not).

Due to those AI tools, it is extremely difficult for employers to distinguish between the real robotics engineers and the Instagram ones (look cool but nothing really inside). If you are one of the fakers, just stop here, this post is not going to help you because it requires real work. On the other hand, if you are one of the real tough engineers, keep reading, I can give you some useful advice.

To actually land your dream robotics job, you need to skip the typical path and get strategic. Here’s the insider’s guide to how to do it.

Forget the Diploma, Show What You’ve Built

I know what you’re thinking: “But I need a fancy degree!”

Honestly, the general opinion is that degrees are becoming less and less important. Really. It is plenty of students that just got their degree and really know nothing. Those are what I call the Instagram profiles.

What matters way more is having a good portfolio—a solid record of projects you’ve actually finished. Think of it as proof that you can do the work, not just talk about it.

Your portfolio is your spotlight. Fill it with projects that excite you, whether you’re building actual robots (hardware is cool!) or programming them (software skills are key!). Every project, big or small, is a point of evidence of your skills.

The portfolio allows the employer to see what you really know about it, and more importantly, ask you questions about it. You cannot fake a portfolio because if you do it, you will be caught during the questioning by your employer (afterall, if you did all those projects, you need to be able to answer the questions about it 😉

Find here my advice about how to create the perfect robotics portfolio.

Go Open-Source: The Ultimate Resume Builder

Here’s a pro tip for leveling up your portfolio: contribute to an existing open-source robotics repository.

Why? It’s not just about showing off your code and learning in the process. When you jump into an important existing repo, fix an issue, or add a feature, you’re proving a few things:

• Teamwork: You show that you can work effectively in multi-cultural teams distributed all over the globe. That kind of collaboration skill is gold.
• Credibility: If your code gets accepted, your name is forever attached to that project. It’s a permanent, public demonstration that you truly know your craft—which is far more powerful than any bullet point on a CV.

Some interesting repos to contribute, related to robotics:

• If you like making autonomous robots, contribute to ROS 2 Navigation
• If you prefer to work on control, contribute to ROS 2 Control
• If you like more robot arms and manipulation, Moveit 2
• If you enjoy working with simulations, Gazebo Sim
• And if you prefer reinforcement learning for humanoids, mjlab

How to start contributing?

Start simple. This means, visit the repo and get a local copy of it. Then go to the repo’s list of pending issues and search for #good-first-issue . This will provide you with a list of simple pending issues that you can start with. Select one and solve it. Then create a PR for it.

Check this simple guide to learn how to do it: https://github.com/firstcontributions/first-contributions

NOTE: you will need to push the guys in charge of the repo to review and accept your issue. This is part of your job. Those guys are very busy so they will be reluctant to review it. That is how it works. Do not panic. Just push them. After all, they are happy somebody solved the bug.

You Gotta Master the Basics (and the Tools)

Even if I said that degrees are no longer a must, you can’t skip this part. You need to master all the basic knowledge in robotics. That means deep-diving into robotics theory (kinematics, control, etc.) and getting super comfortable with robotics programming (hello, ROS and Python/C++).

Especially C++. You need to master it. You can never have enough of C++ knowledge. The more you know the better. Maybe you think that with AI tools it is not necessary to know that much C++. Wrong! AI tools are just a tool to speed you up, not to allow you to skip C++ mastering. You need excellent C++ skills because:

• Companies will test you on this (without AI tools), and they are expecting you to know a lot of it, because it is the key to robust robots
• Even if you use AI, you need to be able to identify where AI is wrong and that requires a lot of knowledge

But don’t stop there. You also need to be fluent in the modern developer toolkit:

• Git for version control
• Docker for consistent environments
• Unit testing and functional testing for building reliable systems

These tools are non-negotiable for any serious robotics company, so you need to master them.

Ditching the Application Page: Two Paths In

Since sending your resume into the digital void doesn’t work anymore, you need to bypass the standard application page and connect directly with people. Here are your two best bets:

1. The Internship Hustle

This is the most direct route. Apply for an internship at a robotics company. Your goal is simple: get your foot in the door and demonstrate that you are the best employee they’ve ever had.

• The Win: If you get a job offer afterward, awesome!
• The Backup Plan: If you don’t, no worries! You’ve gained real experience. Include everything you’ve done in that internship as a huge, verified chunk of your portfolio. Most importantly, take advantage of the contacts you’ve made. Ask them, “Hey, who do you know at other companies that I should talk to?”. Then keep repeating the internship process.

2. Cultivate Your Connections (aka, Show Up)

The robotics industry is built on people. Hence, you need to cultivate your connections. That doesn’t mean that you need to work on LinkedIn and get as many contacts as possible. LinkedIn contacts are in the same Instagram category. They are fake. Useless to get a job. The only contacts that matter are the ones you make in real life (either interacting online, or interacting offline). Of all of the possibilities, offline connections are the best. So…

• Go to the main conferences for the robotics subject you care about. Don’t just sit in the back! Here some recommendations:
  • ROSCon 
  • RoboBusiness
  • Robotics Summit and Expo
  • European Robotics Forum
  • Nvidia GTC
  • IREX
  • Automatica
• Interact as much as possible with as many attendants as possible. Shake hands, ask smart questions, and genuinely listen.
• Cultivate your relationships with these people over time.

These relationships are where the best, unadvertised jobs come from. Getting a job in robotics today isn’t about what you know—it’s about who knows you and the cool stuff you can build.

The Strategic Guide to Networking in Robotics

If the strategies above feel overwhelming, try this 6-month online program

The Robotics Developers Masterclass from The Construct Robotics Institute is an ONLINE training program created to bundle everything you need into one program:

• Master the Basics & Tools: Comprehensive training in robotics theory, ROS 2, C++, and all the essential corporate development tools (Git, Docker, CI/CD, Jenkins).
• Build an Unbeatable Portfolio: You work on several deep, hands-on projects, including a final Capstone Project, using simulated and real robots that form the cornerstone of your experience portfolio.
• Get the Experience: The Masterclass offers a 3-month practical internship at a leading robotics company, giving you the critical experience and contacts needed to bypass the standard application process.

Stop trying to piece together your path—get the complete system.

Learn more and get started at: roboticsdeveloper.ai