MIT CSAIL (2012 – 2019)
Researcher Learning and Intelligent Systems (LIS) group — robot manipulation under sensing/actuation uncertainty.
About Ariel Anders, PhD
Roboticist & Senior Software Engineer
Executive Biography
I am an MIT CSAIL roboticist whose work focuses on building reliable autonomous systems. My research focused on learning physics-based models for planning under uncertainty. I bring deep experience across research and industry, from robot manipulation to social navigation in dynamic indoor environments and autonomous driving.
Over the past year, I’ve built stateful, multi-agent workflows for software development, using AI to engineer feature-rich applications while maintaining code quality and architectural standards, bringing robotics-grade reliability to DevAI.
Outside of robotics and AI, you’ll usually find me on the dance floor or exploring San Francisco. I am an active West Coast Swing dancer who travels for regional events, perform in improv comedy jams, stay fit with high-intensity workouts, and love a good game of chess.
Key Details & Availability
Location: San Francisco, CA
Education: MIT EECS PhD 2019 · SM 2014
Availability: Open to Staff/Senior SWE roles, robotics contracts, and DevAI consulting — especially where robotics and AI-assisted engineering overlap.
Career Timeline Highlights
Robust.AI (2019 – 2022)
First roboticist & behavior lead — real-time indoor social navigation.
Waymo (2022 – 2024)
Senior SWE, Planning team — onboard motion planning & decision-making.
Civ Robotics (2025 – 2026)
Navigation & localization for autonomous forklifts (C++, Python, ROS 2).
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of AI and robotics consulting services do you offer?
I provide technical advisory and engineering consulting across autonomous motion planning, ROS 2 navigation architectures, multi-agent AI workflows, developer tooling, and custom agentic infrastructure for tech ventures.
What is your research background in robotics and AI?
I earned my PhD and Master of Science from MIT CSAIL in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, specializing in conformant planning under sensing and actuation uncertainty, whole-arm grasping, and physics-based models.
Are you available for contract, advisory, or full-time roles?
Yes, I am available for Staff/Senior SWE roles, specialized robotics engineering contracts, and multi-agent DevAI advisory engagements in the San Francisco Bay Area and remote.