Chief of Staff

Darwin (YC F25); San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Darwin is building general-purpose robot technicians for data centers. You will work directly with the CEO on customer development, strategy, and operations, building relationships with operators and hardware manufacturers to drive real-world deployments.

You are a technically minded generalist with hands-on experience in engineering, robotics, or AI. You will move quickly, recruit top engineers, and own cross-functional projects across finance, procurement, and operations.

Qualifications

• Ambitious generalist with strong analytical and technical abilities.
• Background in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or hands-on equivalent.
• Experience in robotics, AI, hardware, or infrastructure is a plus.
• Excellent judgment and communication skills with engineers and customers.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with the CEO on customer development, strategy, and company operations.
• Build relationships with data center operators, hyperscalers, and AI hardware manufacturers; drive deployment discussions.
• Evaluate technical and commercial opportunities with the CEO and translate them into concrete outcomes.
• Drive outbound, marketing, company messaging, and external relationships.
• Identify and recruit exceptional engineers, researchers, and operators.
• Own projects across finance, legal coordination, compliance, procurement, and operations.
• Take ownership of special projects from deployments to sourcing critical hardware.

Job description

The Mission

Every machine is built and repaired by skilled hands. The world needs more of them. At Darwin, we're building general-purpose robot technicians that assemble and maintain the machines civilization runs on.

We're starting with data centers, where assembly, commissioning, and maintenance demand dexterity, precision, and tool use across a wide range of complex physical tasks.

Our robots learn these tasks from demonstrations rather than being explicitly programmed for each workflow. We're a small team building the intelligence, hardware, and company to bring these robots into the real world.

What You’ll Work On

You’ll work directly with the CEO across customer development, strategy, and company operations. Your initial focus will be building customer relationships and turning them into real-world deployments.

• Customer Development & Partnerships: Build relationships with data center operators, hyperscalers, and AI hardware manufacturers. Understand technical and operational needs, identify opportunities, and drive deployment discussions forward.
• Strategy & Execution: Work directly with the CEO to evaluate technical and commercial opportunities, navigate new markets, and turn ambiguous problems into concrete outcomes.
• Growth & Communications: Drive outbound, marketing, company messaging, and external relationships.
• Recruiting: Identify and recruit exceptional engineers, researchers, and operators.
• Company Operations: Own projects across finance, legal coordination, compliance, procurement, and operations.
• Special Projects: Take ownership of whatever matters most, from coordinating deployments to sourcing critical hardware.

Who You Are

You're an exceptional, technically minded generalist who wants to build a consequential technology company from the ground up.

You have strong analytical and technical abilities, ideally with a background in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or equivalent hands-on experience. Experience in robotics, AI, hardware, or infrastructure is a plus.

You’re scrappy, resourceful, and have a track record of independently building things and solving difficult problems with limited resources.

You have exceptional judgment and communication skills. You can quickly understand complex technologies, engage credibly with engineers and customers, and translate technical opportunities into commercial outcomes.

You have high agency, move quickly, and take ownership without waiting for instructions. You’re comfortable switching between strategic thinking and hands-on execution.

You want to operate like a founder, taking responsibility for whatever the company needs most.

Work Eligibility

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. We do not currently sponsor work visas.