Staff Process Industrial Engineer – Factory Launch

Foundation is developing the future of general purpose robotics with the goal to address the labor shortage.

Our mission is to create advanced robots that can operate in complex environments, reducing human risk in conflict zones and enhancing efficiency in labor-intensive industries.

We are on the lookout for extraordinary engineers and scientists to join our team. Your previous experience in robotics isn't a prerequisite - it's your talent and determination that truly count.

We expect that many of our team members will bring diverse perspectives from various industries and fields. We are looking for individuals with a proven record of exceptional ability and a history of creating things that work.

Our Culture

We like to be frank and honest about who we are, so that people can decide for themselves if this is a culture they resonate with. Please read more about our culture here https://foundation.bot/culture.

Who should join:

• You like working in person with a team in San Francisco.
• You deeply believe that this is the most important mission for humanity and needs to happen yesterday.
• You are highly technical - regardless of the role you are in. We are building technology; you need to understand technology well.
• You care about aesthetics and design inside out. If it's not the best product ever, it bothers you, and you need to “fix” it.
• You don't need someone to motivate you; you get things done.

As a Staff Process / Industrial Engineer, you will define how humanoid robots are built in the factory-from workstation architecture to production flow and line balance. You will work closely with design engineering and operations to transform product designs into scalable, repeatable manufacturing processes.

Your work will directly determine how quickly we can launch the factory and how efficiently we can ramp production.

What You’ll Do:

Define Robot Build Processes

Design and develop manufacturing processes for humanoid robot production, including:

• Actuator assembly
• Battery pack assembly
• Body assembly
• Final robot assembly

Create scalable standard work, process documentation, and workstation designs.

Design the Manufacturing System

Develop the production architecture for the factory, including:

• Assembly flow
• Material Flow
• Line balance
• Takt time
• Labor models
• Workstation layout

Ensure the factory can support aggressive production ramp targets.

Support Factory Launch

Work directly on the factory floor during launch to:

• Support pilot builds
• Validate manufacturing processes
• Debug production issues
• Improve build cycle time and yield

Drive Continuous Process Improvement

Identify bottlenecks and implement improvements to:

• Reduce cycle time
• Improve build quality
• Increase production throughput

What We’re Looking For

• 8+ years experience in manufacturing or industrial engineering
• Strong experience developing assembly processes
• Experience with production line design and line balancing
• Hands-on mindset with the ability to solve problems on the factory floor

Ideal Background

• Robotics manufacturing
• EV or Aerospace production
• High-mix electromechanical assembly
• Factory launch or production ramp

Foundation Hardcore Requirements

Foundation operates with a hardcore execution culture. This role requires individuals who are comfortable working in an environment where speed, ownership, and accountability are essential.

You must be someone who:

• Takes ownership of manufacturing outcomes
• Solves problems quickly and directly
• Works effectively under pressure
• Is willing to step outside defined roles to keep production moving

Prioritizes execution and results

Impact

The processes you design will define how humanoid robots are built at scale.

This role directly enables:

• stable production launch
• scalable manufacturing systems
• efficient robot production ramp

Benefits:

We provide market standard benefits (health, vision, dental, 401k, etc.). Join us for the culture and the mission, not for the benefits.

Salary:

The annual compensation is expected to be between $160,000-$220,000. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.