Robotics Mechanical Engineer — Dexterous Hand Hardware

foundation-robotics; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Foundation is seeking engineers to advance humanoid robotics with a focus on extremely compact, tendon-driven hand mechanisms and high-performance actuation. The role emphasizes hands-on prototyping, rigorous testing, and iterative design to meet stringent strength and manufacturability criteria.

You will join a team focused on solving challenging manipulation problems in real-world environments, based in San Francisco.

Qualifications

• Shipped hard-to-build, hard-to-make-reliable products at industrial scale.
• Strong foundation in mechanical engineering principles and hands-on robotics experience.
• Experience with complex assemblies and kinematic systems under tight spatial constraints.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes (CNC, injection molding, stamping, additive manufacturing).
• Familiarity with control systems and mechatronics; hands-on prototyping experience.

Responsibilities

• Tackle the hardest unsolved problems in robotics hardware, focusing on dexterous manipulation in real-world environments.
• Design and develop mechanical architectures for humanoid robotic hands, joints, structures, and tendon-driven systems.
• Select and integrate tendons, actuators, routing hardware, transmission mechanisms and electronics in space-constrained environments.
• Prototype, test, and iterate hand designs to meet strength, dexterity, durability, and manufacturability goals.
• Conduct stress, fatigue, and failure analyses; evaluate materials for strength, wear resistance, and flexibility.

Job description

Foundation is seeking engineers to advance humanoid robotics with a focus on extremely compact, tendon-driven hand mechanisms and high-performance actuation. The role emphasizes hands-on prototyping, rigorous testing, and iterative design to meet stringent strength and manufacturability criteria.

You will join a team focused on solving challenging manipulation problems in real-world environments, based in San Francisco.