Head of Manufacturing Engineering

ABOUT US

Foundry Robotics is building an AI-native robotics manufacturing company focused on deploying advanced assembly and production capability for leading robotics companies and national-security-critical hardware. Basically, we’re building robots that build robots.

We are reimagining manufacturing through advanced robotics. Our mission is to rebuild the American manufacturing industry as an AI-first, assembly-focused, dual-use contract manufacturer. We aim to empower manufacturers with intelligent, efficient, and adaptable robotic systems that redefine productivity and quality. As an early member of our team, you will have a direct and significant impact on our product, culture, and ultimate success. This role is 100% in-person at our office in Emeryville, CA.

THE ROLE

This role is for a Head of Manufacturing Engineering who will set the technical manufacturing automation roadmap for Foundry and build the teams that execute it. Reporting to the Chief Manufacturing Officer, you will stand up and lead two groups: Manufacturing Engineering, which owns DFM/DFA for our customers, line and cell design, tooling, automation and new product launches; and Process Engineering, which owns process optimization, standard work, yield and cycle time across every program on the floor.

You are also the owner of Foundry's hardest problem. Our customers bring us different products at different volumes, and the factory has to absorb them without being rebuilt each time. That means a flexible assembly line that runs multiple products on shared stations, automation driven by foundation models rather than hand-programmed cells, autonomous material movement from dock to station, and a factory layout designed around all of it. You will decide what we build, in what order, and why, and you will be on the floor when it gets built.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Own the multi-year manufacturing automation roadmap: which operations get automated, in what sequence, with what technology, and defend it with takt, capex and risk numbers

- Design and launch a flexible assembly line that runs multiple customer products on shared stations, fixtures and conveyance, with changeovers measured in hours rather than weeks

- Partner with our software and robotics teams to deploy foundation-model-driven automation on the floor (assembly, inspection, kitting, material handling), and decide where learned automation beats fixed automation and where it does not yet

- Specify and deploy autonomous material movement (AMR/AGV fleets, kitting, line-side replenishment) so material reaches the station without a person pushing a cart

- Own the factory layout of our Emeryville facility as a living design: flow, cell boundaries, material routes, utilities and ITAR-segregated areas, working with Facilities on the physical build-out

- Build the DFM/DFA practice that turns a customer's prototype into something we can build at rate and yield, with your engineers in customer discovery and quoting to catch cost and quality problems before the PO

- Build the Process Engineering team that owns standard work, cycle time, line balance, yield, PFMEA, control plans, tooling and fixtures, and continuous improvement

- Own new product introduction from customer handoff to stable production: pilot builds, PFMEA, control plans, work instructions, capability studies and ramp

- Hire, develop and lead manufacturing and process engineers, and set the bar for engineering culture on the floor

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Founder mentality: We love people who build like it's their own company. You move fast, take ownership, and find a way through when the path isn't obvious. You have the drive to make big things happen and the judgment to take smart risks along the way. If you prefer a clearly defined lane, a predictable pace, and all the answers before you start, there's nothing wrong with that—but Foundry might not be the right fit.

- 12+ years in manufacturing engineerin