Staff Electrical Engineer (Phantom)

foundation-robotics; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Foundation is seeking extraordinary engineers and scientists to join our team in San Francisco. You will lead electrical architecture for our humanoid robot, from concept through prototyping, validation, and production.

You are highly technical with 8+ years in power electronics or compute hardware, and you collaborate with AI, software, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to deliver high-performance, reliable systems.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in power electronics or compute hardware.
• Hands-on leadership in fast-paced, interdisciplinary environments.
• Strong background in embedded systems and real-time robotics architectures.
• Expertise in PCB design, signal integrity, thermal management.
• Familiarity with communication protocols (PCIe, Ethernet, CAN).
• Experience scaling complex systems from prototype to production.

Responsibilities

• Own the electrical architecture for the humanoid robot from concept through prototyping, validation, and production.
• Lead design, validation, and production of complex electrical systems.
• Collaborate with AI, software, mechanical, manufacturing teams to deliver integrated hardware.
• Mentor engineers and shape the future of the electrical engineering discipline.

Skills

Power electronics

Compute hardware

Embedded systems

PCB design

Signal integrity

Thermal management

PCIe

Ethernet

CAN

Mass production scaling

Education

Bachelors/Masters in Electrical/Mechatronics

Tools

PCIe

Ethernet

CAN

Job description

About Foundation:

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:

• Join a small, high-impact team responsible for the electrical architecture that powers every subsystem of our humanoid robot—from compute and sensing to power distribution, communications, and safety.
• You'll own the design and development of complex electrical systems, taking products from concept through prototyping, validation, and production while balancing performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• This role spans the full hardware stack, including custom compute, embedded electronics, power distribution, high-speed interfaces, sensor integration, and system architecture.
• Working alongside AI, software, mechanical, manufacturing, and embedded teams, you'll develop tightly integrated hardware that enables the next generation of intelligent robotic systems.
• As a technical leader, you'll help establish the electrical engineering discipline, mentor engineers, define architecture, and shape the future of one of the most advanced humanoid robotics platforms in the world.

What Kind of Person We are Looking for:

• 8+ years experience in power electronics, compute hardware, or similar areas.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field. PhD is a plus.
• A hands-on leader who excels in fast-paced, interdisciplinary environments and drives innovation in compute for robotics.
• Strong background in embedded systems, power electronics, and real-time architectures for robotics, automotive, or high-performance computing applications.
• Expert in PCB design, signal integrity, thermal management, and fault-tolerant systems for compute hardware.
• Familiarity with communication protocols (e.g., PCIe, Ethernet, CAN) and interfaces for AI and sensor data processing.
• Experience scaling power electronics or other complex systems from prototyping to mass production, with a focus on optimization and reliability.