VP of Engineering
We are building the foundational AI model and prompt-to-matter platform for chemistry-based products - an MCP/API layer that allows prompts and AI agents to design, formulate, and orchestrate robotic manufacturing.
Every formulation, batch, process parameter, and outcome becomes training data. Our manufacturing nodes are not just places where products are made - they are environments where the system learns how chemistry behaves in the real world. Connected through a unified intelligence layer, each run improves formulation design, process control, and production efficiency across the network.
When intelligence is embedded into the systems that transform matter, production becomes adaptive, local, and exponentially more capable. We are building a platform that will help power a radically abundant future.
About the Role
As VP of Engineering, you'll own the engineering execution for our platform that orchestrates it. This is a senior leadership role for a builder who can set technical direction, hire and develop a world-class team, and stay hands-on where it matters.
You'll lead a multidisciplinary org spanning robotics/automation, embedded & controls, cloud/platform software, and applied AI/ML. Our work lives in the real world: sensors, actuators, safety, uptime, cost-down, throughput, and quality--paired with software that turns manufacturing into a programmable, learning system.
This is a full-time, California-based role with in-person collaboration expected in our Mountain View office.
We care less about pedigree and more about high agency, first-principles thinking, and a willingness to learn fast. You should be the kind of leader who ships, unblocks, and continuously upgrades your own workflow with modern AI tooling.
What You'll Do
- Own the engineering roadmap and execution for Gen 3 hardware + the platform that runs it.
- Build and lead a high-performing team across robotics, controls, firmware/embedded, cloud software, and AI/ML.
- Set architecture and technical standards: reliability, safety, testability, observability, and maintainability.
- Drive system integration from end to end: mechanical/electrical interfaces, firmware, services, UI, data pipelines.
- Partner closely with Product to translate customer needs into clear priorities, milestones, and shipped releases.
- Establish engineering operating cadence: planning, reviews, incident postmortems, retros, and continuous improvement.
- Design for manufacturability and deployment at scale: cost-down, serviceability, calibration, QA gates, and runbooks.
- Build the feedback loop: instrumentation + data systems that let the platform learn and improve over time.
- Own hiring and team design: org structure, leveling, interviewing, onboarding, and culture.
- Jump into complex technical problems when needed and lead by example.
What We're Looking For
- 8+ years of engineering experience with 3+ years leading teams (manager-of-managers experience is a plus).
- Demonstrated ability to ship complex, cross-disciplinary systems (hardware + software preferred).
- Strong technical judgment across at least two of: robotics/automation, controls, embedded/firmware, cloud/platform, AI/ML.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity: you can define the plan, make tradeoffs, and move fast without perfect information.
- High agency and ownership mindset - you don't wait to be told what to do.
- Systems thinker who understands interfaces, failure modes, testing strategy, and lifecycle management.
- Hands-on leadership style; capable of reviewing designs/code and mentoring engineers deeply.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- AI-native working style - actively leveraging modern AI tools to accelerate engineering output and quality.
- Nice-to-haves: factory automation, industrial controls, distributed systems, manufacturing environments.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation with equity.
- High ownership and autonomy in a fast-moving environment.
- Opportunity to build foundational technology that reshapes global manufacturing.
- In-person collaboration with a small, ambitious team building real-world systems.
Interested in this role? Submit your application below and we will review it quickly.
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