PhD Research Internship – Robotics Engineer (VLM / VLA Models)

Cambridge Consultants

THE ROLE We have an exciting opportunity for an internship within our AI & Algorithms department. This placement can be between 6- and 12-months duration with a flexible start date, and is suitable for PhD and Masters students who have completed their first year of study. As an AI & Algorithms Engineer (PhD Intern), you’ll have the opportunity to get involved with a range of diverse projects working and supported by a talented team of experts and mentors. You'll engage in hands-on tasks such as modelling, training, testing, and data-wrangling. With cutting-edge labs and computing resources at your disposal, you'll use technology to solve problems in the real world.   WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING * Working alongside our engineers building AI systems, developing your skills through hands-on coding and training/testing models. * Supporting projects for our clients to solve real-world problems. * Learning software development skills in mixed-discipline teams, attending stand-ups and contributing to planning sessions. * Contributing to our internal research and development programs, building on state-of-the-art AI literature to produce our own, market-leading solutions and compelling demonstrations that showcase our expertise to clients. * Communicating the results of your work to your colleagues and clients.        WHAT YOU CAN BRING We are looking for someone with a degree in a relevant subject, such as AI/machine learning, computer science, mathematics, physics or theoretical physics, and currently studying towards a relevant PhD or Master’s.  You will also have: * Interest in applying AI and algorithmic techniques to real-world problems. * Strong Python programming skills and understanding of modern version control (e.g. Git) * Demonstrable research experience in a data-driven field (such as project work, conference proceedings, journals publications).   Some projects at Cambridge Consultants are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to obtain a Security Check level security clearance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant). You must be able to work in the UK without restrictions in accordance with UK National Law and be prepared to successfully undertake an appropriate level of UK National Security Vetting according to UK Government National Security Vetting criteria.   While not essential requirements, we would also be very interested if you have experience with any of the following: * Information science, Bayesian statistics * Signal processing * Bioinformatics * Reinforcement learning * Transformer and diffusion models * Robotics (including VLA models) * Edge compute   WHY CAMBRIDGE CONSULTANTS? Cambridge Consultants creates exciting and novel breakthroughs in technology and products. Our work on intelligent systems area has helped create world-first and market-changing technologies including real-time AI-enhanced medical imaging, autonomous defence systems against cyberattacks, and edge algorithms to help visually impaired people navigate indoor spaces. We combine our research output with engineering rigour to create innovative and robust solutions to solve complex problems presented to us by our clients. We help clients across a diverse range of markets, including defence/security, healthcare, biotech, industrial and energy, so there is no shortage of variety. At the heart of what we do are talented and motivated multi-disciplinary teams empowered to create cutting edge technologies and systems to solve difficult problems for our clients. We offer a diverse, fun, and challenging work environment where you'll have the chance to work on a wide variety of projects that deliver real value using technology.  We recognise and celebrate individual talent and we understand the importance of letting individuals be just that. Our people are here to do the best work of their lives and our job is to provide the platform for them to do it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By submitting an application to Cambridge Consultants, you confirm that the information provided in this application, together with any supporting documentation, is true, complete, and accurate to the best of your knowledge and belief. You understand that any false statement, misleading information, or material omission may render you liable to disqualification from the recruitment process, withdrawal of any offer of employment, or dismissal without notice if discovered following appointment. You acknowledge that the organisation reserves the right to verify the information supplied. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cambridge Consultants

OVERVIEW This internship focuses on advanced defence and security technology development. The role is suited to a PhD-level researcher with strong technical grounding in software security, cyber technologies, and embedded or distributed systems. This placement can be between 3- and 6-months duration with a flexible start date, and is suitable for PhD students who have completed their first year of study. There is no deadline for this role, as we recruit on a rolling basis. Once the position is filled, we will close the advert. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.   WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING * Contribute to research and development of secure systems across defence and security domains. * Support the creation of novel security technologies, including areas such as threat landscaping, post-quantum cryptography, privacy-enhancing technologies, and trusted execution approaches. * Investigate and prototype embedded and distributed software for constrained, safety-critical, or adversarial environments. * Perform threat analysis, security architecture reviews, and experimental validation of new techniques. * Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams covering software, electronics, RF, AI, autonomy, and communications. * Participate in full lifecycle development activities, including design, implementation, testing, and documentation.   WHAT YOU CAN BRING Current PhD study in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related discipline. You will also have: * A background in software or hardware engineering, with a demonstrable interest in cybersecurity research. * Knowledge of one or more programming languages such as Python, C/C++, Rust, Go, or similar. * The ability to undertake technical investigations and communicate findings clearly. * Eligibility to obtain UK Security Clearance.   Desirable experience: * Experience in embedded software development or hardware–software interactions. * Experience in security for IoT, robotics, autonomy, or smart infrastructure. * An understanding of regulatory or assurance environments for security-critical systems.   Some projects at Cambridge Consultants are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to obtain a Security Check level security clearance ( https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant ). You must be able to work in the UK without restrictions in accordance with UK National Law and be prepared to successfully undertake an appropriate level of UK National Security Vetting according to UK Government National Security Vetting criteria.   WORKING ENVIRONMENT A successful intern will work within the Defence and Security business unit, engaging with experienced engineers and researchers on high‑impact client and internal R&D projects. Work may involve both on‑site and laboratory‑based activities.   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By submitting an application to Cambridge Consultants, you confirm that the information provided in this application, together with any supporting documentation, is true, complete, and accurate to the best of your knowledge and belief. You understand that any false statement, misleading information, or material omission may render you liable to disqualification from the recruitment process, withdrawal of any offer of employment, or dismissal without notice if discovered following appointment. You acknowledge that the organisation reserves the right to verify the information supplied. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sereact

WHO WE ARE: We build the intelligence that lets robots sense, reason, and act in the real world—moving beyond the lab and into everyday industrial settings like warehouses and factories. Our technology closes the automation gaps that traditional systems can’t solve. We are on a mission to redefine how physical work gets done, and we’re looking for curious, bold thinkers to help shape the future of robotics with us. OVERVIEW: We are seeking a highly motivated Research Intern to contribute to our work on task decomposition and multimodal fusion for imitation learning in robotic manipulation. This internship is ideal for students or early-stage researchers passionate about applying machine learning, computer vision, and robotics to real-world industrial automation challenges. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES: * Develop and evaluate task decomposition methods for complex robotic manipulation tasks. * Investigate multimodal sensor fusion (e.g., vision, force, tactile) techniques to improve policy learning. * Implement and benchmark imitation learning pipelines using both simulated and real-world robotic setups. * Collaborate with our engineering team to transfer research outcomes to prototype systems. * Document and present findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. QUALIFICATIONS: MUST HAVE: * Enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program in Robotics, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, or a related field with a minimum GPA of 1.7 (German scale). * OR GitHub repository with at least 5 stars OTHER REQUIREMENTS: * Familiarity with reinforcement learning, imitation learning, or behavior cloning methods. * Hands-on experience with robotic platforms or simulation environments (e.g., PyBullet, Isaac Gym). * Strong programming skills in Python; familiarity with PyTorch or TensorFlow is a plus. * Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently. WHAT WE OFFER: * Flexible working hours * Option to work from home when needed * A motivated team and an open corporate culture