Founding Mechanical Engineer

Department: Engineering

Location: San Francisco

Compensation: $160K – $200K • Offers Equity

Employment Type: FullTime

The Role

Foundry Robotics is building an AI-native robotics manufacturing company focused on deploying advanced assembly and production capability for national-security–critical hardware. Basically, we’re building robots that build robots.

This role is for a mechanical engineer who is as comfortable in CAD as they are on the shop floor. You’ll design, fabricate, assemble, and iterate on real hardware — and help define how robotic systems move from prototype to production in a fast, scrappy environment.

This is a founding-level role with high ownership and direct impact on the core product and manufacturing platform.

What You’ll Do

• Design mechanical and electromechanical systems using CAD, from quick prototypes to production-intent assemblies

• Own DFM, DFA, and process engineering across prototyping and early production

• Work hands-on with a range of fabrication technologies (machining, sheet metal, welding, 3D printing, fixtures, tooling)

• Build, assemble, test, and iterate on hardware yourself — this is not a desk-only role

• Develop assembly workflows, jigs, fixtures, and tooling to support scalable manufacturing

• Partner with external vendors and contract manufacturers; manage drawings, tolerances, feedback, and iteration loops

• Collaborate closely with electrical, robotics, and software teammates to integrate full systems

• Make pragmatic tradeoffs between speed, cost, quality, and scalability in an early-stage startup

What We’re Looking For

• Strong CAD skills and the ability to produce clear, production-ready designs and drawings

• Deep comfort with DFM, DFA, and manufacturing process design

• Hands-on experience across multiple fabrication and assembly methods

• Background in electromechanical assembly, robotics, automation, or complex hardware systems

• Experience working with vendors, suppliers, or external manufacturing partners

• Scrappy, practical, and comfortable building things yourself

• Bias toward action, fast iteration, and learning by doing

Bonus (Not Required)

• Prior experience at a hardware or robotics startup

• Time spent in a factory, machine shop, or contract manufacturing environment

• Experience designing fixtures, end-effectors, or assembly tooling

• Exposure to scaling hardware from prototype to low-rate production

Founder Context

The company is led by Adarsh Kulkarni, who holds an active TS/SCI clearance and has previously briefed senior government and defense leadership across classified and unclassified environments. Prior to founding the company, Adarsh was employee #4 at a defense-focused legged robotics company, working closely with operators, program offices, and technical teams on real-world deployments. He was also Head of Robotics at Scale AI, and briefly spent time on Scale’s PubSec team leading autonomy initiatives.

Adarsh is a mechanical engineer by trade, but has always been a full stack roboticist. He’s always finding an excuse to spend time on the floor of the office building hardware, and has plenty of hands on machining experience to go with the business leadership.

Why This Role Matters

You’ll be building the mechanical foundation of a company designed to redefine how manufacturing works. The systems and processes you create will directly shape how robots are built — and how those robots build everything else.

If you want real ownership, real hardware, and the chance to build something that compounds, this role is for you.