VP, Government

Foundry Robotics; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 250,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity-based compensation

Comprehensive health coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Generous PTO

Job summary

Foundry Robotics is seeking a seasoned government affairs leader to own the government relations for our defense-focused manufacturing business in Washington, DC, with regular time at our headquarters in Emeryville, CA. You will steer direct government engagements, shape policy, shepherd NDAA and appropriations, and lead a team handling capture, proposals, compliance, and pricing.

This role offers influence on public-sector programs while collaborating with experienced advisors.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in OSD or service acquisition, on the Hill, or running government for a defense tech company.
• Experience pulling in non-dilutive funding or starting a program with measurable outcomes.
• Familiarity with NDAA language and defense procurement processes.

Responsibilities

• Own direct to government relationships and initiatives at Foundry Robotics.
• Lead the NDAA policy to program pipeline, and manage NDAA/appropriations cycles with DC teams.
• Coordinate vehicles (FFP, IDIQ, OTA) to enable rapid government procurement.
• Lead advisors, provide strategic plans, and supervise the capture, proposals, compliance, and pricing teams.
• Build and manage the proposal machine to handle volume of government contracts.

Skills

OSD policy experience

Government relations

Proposal writing

Non-dilutive funding

Bill/draft to conference

Leadership of advisors

Contract vehicle knowledge

Job description

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 the leader of our government team, you will have a direct and significant impact on our product, culture, and ultimate success. This role is based in Washington, DC, with regular time at our headquarters in Emeryville, CA.

The Role

Foundry builds factories for the defense industrial base. Robots do the work and the factory retools as fast as the design changes. We have real customers and real purchase orders. Now we need someone to own the government side of the house.

Simple Version: You run any direct to government relationships and initiatives at Foundry Robotics.

The Hill, the Department, the vehicles, and the teams we’ve built to support the campaigns. Today a few of us do this on top of our day jobs. You take it over.

Key Responsibilities

• Non-dilutive capital. The Office of Strategic Capital, the SBIR ladder from first
  award to transition. Then DPA Title III, IBAS, ManTech, and appropriations.
  Policy to program.
• Take the NDAA language we fought for and shepherd it through OSD and the services. Run next year's NDAA and appropriations cycle with our DC teams.
• Vehicles. FFP, IDIQ or OTA so program offices and primes can buy from us fast.
• Lead our advisors. Give them the plan, check the work.
• The proposal machine. We’re about to carry a lot of government contracts. Build the
  team that handles the volume: capture, proposals, compliance, pricing.

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.

• 6+ years in OSD or service acquisition, on the Hill, or running government for a defense tech company. You've pulled in non-dilutive money or started a program. Names and numbers, not adjacent.
• You know industrial base policy and the folks who run it: OSC, DPA Title III, IBAS, ManTech, the defense apropos subcommittees.
• You've taken a bill from draft to markup to conference, and you know what to do with it after it passes.
• You've won a contract vehicle or run task orders under one: OTA, IDIQ, consortium.
• You write well and fast. Proposals, white papers, one-pagers, bill text.
• You've managed consultants before and know how to handle them.

Nice to Have (Not Required)

• Active security clearance, or the ability to obtain one.
• Appropriations experience: HAC-D or SAC-D staff, OSD staff, or you've secured a program add.
• Manufacturing or industrial base experience: ManTech, the organic industrial base, the DIB consortia.
• Time inside a prime's government relations or capture shop.

Why Join Us?

This is one of the only places where world-class manufacturing operators, mechanical engineers, robotics researchers, and software engineers sit in the same room — building production systems together.

We are committed to being deeply embedded in the U.S. industrial base. Our focus is simple: build adaptive robotic assembly systems that make American manufacturing scalable, resilient, and competitive again.

If you want to run a mature, well-defined commercial org, this may not be the role.

If you want to build the commercial engine that brings AI-driven manufacturing to every industrial and energy customer in America — this is it.

The base salary range for this full-time position is: $250,000—$300,000 USD

Compensation packages at Foundry Robotics for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position, determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, interview performance, and relevant education or training. Foundry Robotics employees in eligible roles are also granted equity based compensation, subject to Board of Director approval. You'll also receive benefits including, but not limited to: Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, and generous PTO.

Foundry Robotics is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.