Software Engineer
Foundational Industries · San Francisco
Software Engineer
Foundational Industries · SF Bay Area · Full-Time
About Foundational
Foundational is building a network of AI-native, autonomous factories for modern contract manufacturing, reshoring critical supply chains so companies can produce high-quality products domestically, quickly, and at competitive cost. Recent breakthroughs in robotics and physical AI have shifted autonomous manufacturing from theoretical to deployable, and we’re focused on operationalizing these capabilities at scale during a decisive decade for American industrial leadership.
WHO — Who Thrives Here
This role is for a software engineer who wants both: to build systems from scratch and to see them run in production, under real operational pressure, in a real factory. The greenfield work here is meaningful. So is the production bar. The right person finds both equally compelling.
A note on pace: this is a startup building something genuinely hard. The people who do best here bring a sense of urgency that’s internal, not installed. If you need the environment to create pressure for you, this probably isn’t the right fit. If you’re the one creating pressure for the environment, keep reading.
The person who thrives here:
Builds with the end environment in mind — clean architecture and operational reliability are the same goal.
Moves with urgency. Bias toward action, not toward getting comfortable.
Takes ownership of outcomes, end to end. Designs it, ships it, stands behind it.
Communicates with precision — translates technical decisions clearly across engineering, operations, and product.
Iterates fast and holds a high bar for what “done” actually means.
Is genuinely drawn to physical systems and curious about how factories operate. The constraints are part of the appeal.
MISSION
Build the software systems that power Foundational’s AI-native manufacturing platform, from first principles to production.
OUTCOMES — What Success Looks Like in 6–12 Months
Design and ship core backend services and APIs that connect factory equipment, robotics, and operational systems into Foundational’s unified platform, live in production within six months.
Own at least one greenfield system end to end: from architecture decision through deployment, with measurable operational impact.
Build data pipelines that give the operations team real-time visibility into factory performance — turning raw machine data into actionable signal.
Develop a working fluency in the factory environment — understand the physical constraints and design software that holds up in them.
SKILLS
3–7+ years of professional software development, with production systems as the primary proving ground. We care more about what you’ve shipped than how long you’ve been at it.
Strong command of at least one modern language (Python, Go, C++, Java) and comfort across a polyglot stack
Solid foundation in object-oriented programming and multi-layered system architecture
Experience designing and operating backend services, APIs, or data pipelines in production
Familiarity with distributed systems concepts and data storage technologies
Debugging and problem-solving across software and system boundaries
Experience in or genuine draw toward manufacturing, robotics, or industrial environments
Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools (Claude Code, Copilot, etc.) is a meaningful plus — especially if you’ve thought carefully about how to use them well, not just that you use them
COMPETENCIES
Ships with intent — builds for the environment it will run in, holds quality to a production standard, closes the loop on what was delivered
Systems thinker — sees how components interact, anticipates failure modes, designs for operational reality
Builder’s instinct — energized by zero-to-one work and equally committed to what comes after the launch
High ownership — takes responsibility for outcomes and drives problems to resolution. Doesn’t wait to be told.
Collaborative by default — works across controls, AI, hardware, and operations without losing clarity or momentum
Curious about the physical world — wants to understand the factory, the constraints, and what it takes to build software that holds up in it
Why Foundational
This is a filter as much as it is an invitation.
We’re turning reindustrialization from a talking point into an operating reality. The work is hard, the environment is demanding, and the stakes are real. We compensate through base, bonus and equity that reflect impact, responsibility, and results, with meaningful upside for the people who help build and scale this company.
For those aligned with the mission and motivated by execution at scale, Foundational offers the opportunity to help define one of the most consequential industrial transformations of the next decade.
Foundational Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Foundational complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We evaluate every candidate on what they can do and who they are.
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