Smart Robots, Inc.

Sunday, February 05, 2012

Internships at Smart Robots, Inc.

Become one of our Starfighters

[If you don't know what this means, see the 1984 movie "The Last Starfighter" starring Lance Guest and Robert Preston.]

We are a small development stage company with most of our staff working virtually and with much adventure and opportunity facing us, and a great deal to do and (it seems) never enough hands to get it all done.

The internship plan we work with is one where you grow as we grow, in the particular areas you have expertise and interests in. We work with both student interns and skilled and experienced professionals and technicians already out in the work place and signing on with us as interns - working with us on site or virtually over the web. We ask interns for a committment of a minimum of one year. The first three months of our internships are generally unpaid "boot-camp" periods where we pile a ton of work on the intern and, in the process, we learn what your skills and capabilities are - and you learn what we do and how we work.

We pay:

A small monthly stipend starting in the fourth month
Stipends grow with the success of your activity and your own personal and professional growth, for as long as you are with us in this capacity

We offer: (for those who stay with us until they graduate)

help in placement upon your graduation on a "best efforts" basis on our part
A job with us after graduation if you are interested and if you qualify (and if our budget allows)
A good reference if you leave with accomplishment or with just a good experience for you and ourselves when you need to move on
Our hearty thanks for all that you do with us - with as many perks as we can send your way or arrange for you while you are with us (conferences, books, subscriptions)

During 2010 we are looking to sign up qualified interns in the following three areas:

Computer Programmers Computer skills in Linux, Java, other open source languages and tools, gaming, GUIs, kinematic control software, vision recognition
Documentation and Media Specialists Technical documentation and media skills for technical and user manual writing, project, systems and coding documentation, marketing materials, web design, video production
Webmasters Web site design, development and management, and computer networking and communications

In particular, for those of you who may work with us virtually, we will be looking to put significant responsibility on you for the work that you do - that will have you working quite independently while at the same time utilizing the very best practices we can put together to make the virtual relationship work and work exceedingly well. Those of you who can take leadership roles in your specialty areas within this virtual framework will create the greatest value for both you and us. Plan to discuss such arrangements with us only if you have strong self-discipline and the ability to work independently while at the same time communicating regularly with your associates within and outside the firm in completing tasks. Regular reporting and logging and blogging are all key to this environment, as well contributing to and working with the virtual teaming technologies and skills that we seek to master.

To get an early indication of whether your experience and skills are a match for the tasks we have available right now, please send your resume to admin@smartrobots.com with a cover message that tells us why you wish to be an intern with us and what you feel best qualifies you for working with us.