The organization was established in 2008 as a non-profit corporation by University of California, Berkeley student, Xiao-Yu Fu.

The University provides training and mentorship opportunities for local high school students to improve their technological skills, by participating in a robotics competition, during which each student team designs, builds, and programs functional robots.

Pioneers in Engineering was founded in 2008 by University of California, Berkeley student and Tau Beta Pi member, Xiao-Yu Fu.

Staff members, including University of California undergraduates and graduates, design and assemble robotics starter kits for the competition, develop mentors for the program, plan and manufacture the annual competition field, and oversee public relations and internal communications.

A final tournament is held at the end of the season, allowing the student teams to reveal their work, for which awards are presented.