Chief Designer

foundation-robotics; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 240,000 - 400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market standard benefits (health, eye,

401k

Culture of mission-driven work

Job summary

Foundation Robotics seeks a Chief Designer to own end-to-end design vision for our general-purpose robots, crafting human-centric experiences from unboxing to servicing. You will shape brand identity, robot form factors, interfaces, motion, and product ecosystems, ensuring joyful, trusted interactions.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams across industrial design, UX/UI, motion, brand, and service design; collaborate with AI, hardware, and software to deliver human-friendly robotics at scale.

Qualifications

• Proven track record shipping transformative products fusing tech with human empathy.
• Expertise across industrial design, UX/UI, human-machine interaction, brand strategy and service design.
• Outstanding cross-functional collaboration and ability to align engineering, product, marketing and exec teams.
• Portfolio demonstrating bold, innovative designs with emotional detail.

Responsibilities

• Defining and championing a global design philosophy for humanoid form factors and user journeys.
• Building, mentoring, and leading multidisciplinary design teams across industrial design, UX/UI, motion, brand, and service design.
• Partnering with AI, robotics, hardware, and software teams to co-create intuitive experiences with emotional resonance.
• Overseeing cohesive brand storytelling across aesthetics, interfaces, environments, and customer support ecosystems.
• Developing scalable design systems for components, interfaces, behaviors, and visual identity.
• Embedding ethics, inclusivity, safety, and transparency into designs to foster trust.
• Pushing innovation by exploring materials, paradigms, and trends to make robots feel alive.

Skills

Industrial design

UX/UI

Human-machine interaction

Brand strategy

Service design

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Tools

Motion design

AI embodiment

Bio-inspired forms

Consumer hardware

Job description

About Us

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.

Why are We Hiring for this Role:

We're hiring a Chief Designer to own and orchestrate the end-to-end design vision for our general-purpose robots, treating them as the next wave of computing devices that must be profoundly human-centric. Our robots aren't just machines, they're companions that need to delight users, build emotional connections, and inspire love through every interaction. Current designs often feel cold and utilitarian, but we believe robots can transform lives by being intuitive, empathetic, and seamlessly integrated into human environments, from initial unboxing to ongoing servicing and upgrades.

This role is critical because you'll lead the charge in redefining how humans experience robotics, owning everything from brand identity and robot form factors to software interfaces, motion behaviors, user onboarding, environmental integration, and post-deployment servicing. In our lean, fast-moving team, you'll drive this holistically, collaborating across disciplines to ensure every touchpoint evokes joy and trust. If successful, your work will set a new standard for human-robot relationships, making our products irresistible and accelerating adoption in homes, workplaces, and beyond.

Key responsibilities include:

• Defining and championing a global design philosophy rooted in human-centered principles, guiding humanoid form factors, interactions, and the entire user journey.
• Building, mentoring, and leading multidisciplinary teams in industrial design, UX/UI, motion, interaction, brand, and service design.
• Partnering with AI, robotics, hardware, and software teams to co-create intuitive experiences that blend cutting-edge tech with emotional resonance.
• Overseeing cohesive brand storytelling across aesthetics, interfaces, gestures, environments, media, and customer support ecosystems.
• Developing scalable design systems for components, interfaces, behaviors, and visual identity that prioritize delight and accessibility.
• Embedding ethics, inclusivity, safety, and transparency into designs to foster trust in human-robot interactions.
• Pushing innovation by exploring emerging materials, paradigms, and trends to make robots feel alive and lovable.

What Kind of Person We Are Looking For:

• Proven track record of shipping transformative products that fuse advanced technology with deep human empathy, creating experiences users adore.
• Expertise in industrial design, UX/UI, human-machine interaction, brand strategy, and service design, with a holistic view of the user lifecycle.
• Exceptional cross-functional collaboration skills, adept at bridging engineering, product, marketing, and executive teams to align on visionary outcomes.
• Outstanding communication, storytelling, and presentation abilities to inspire teams and stakeholders with compelling narratives.
• Experience designing humanoid or robotic platforms, with a background in motion design, AI embodiment, bio-inspired forms, or consumer-facing hardware.
• A burning passion for building technology that doesn't just function but feels alive, intuitive, and emotionally engaging.
• A portfolio showcasing bold, innovative designs that emphasize emotional detail, user delight, and end-to-end coherence.

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 $240,000.00 - $400,000.00. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.