Head of Software

America once turned breakthroughs into abundant products with unmatched speed. Our edge wasn’t just invention; it was the ability to prototype, iterate, and scale production faster than anyone else.

Over time, we kept inventing but lost production velocity. High-volume manufacturing moved offshore, and low-volume, high-mix production became slow, fragmented, and burdened by overhead, quoting, programming, scheduling, and coordination. For decades, fixing this wasn’t economical. The indirect workaround costs more than the production itself.

That constraint is no longer.

New tools now automate the cognitive layers that once slowed everything down, collapsing weeks into days and turning overhead into code.

For the first time in decades, fast, flexible domestic production can be economically superior. We’re rebuilding America’s productive edge by accelerating high-tech, low-volume, high-mix manufacturing, helping hard-tech teams prototype faster, launch sooner, and build more here.

If you want to restore American productive power and ship real hardware, reach out.

jakob@foundation-industries.com

About

Foundation Industries is building the supply base for frontier hardware companies: We CNC machine critical components and have built a manufacturing platform that connects every step of the process into one continuously improving, software-defined system. We're backed by Y Combinator and other awesome investors and have shipped parts to customers like Skydio, Westmag, and Askari Defense.

Role Description

We’re hiring a Head of Software to own the platform's technical direction and execution. The work centers on the deep backend ERP/MES-like workflow engines, data models, and integrations that run the factory.

You’ll set the roadmap, architecture, and engineering standards; lead and grow the software team; and work directly with manufacturing, operations, and the founding team to turn company priorities into reliable production systems. You’ll also define Foundation’s approach to AI: practical, secure applications that accelerate engineering, automate operational workflows, and improve decision-making.

Near-term

• Own the software roadmap and execution cadence
• Develop deep context on the platform and factory
• Stabilize and harden the core backend
• Architect the platform for depth and scale
• Define a pragmatic, secure AI posture

Long-term

• Build the manufacturing operating system
• Scale the engineering organization and technical leadership
• Make AI a compounding advantage
• Strengthen reliability, security, and compliance

What we’re looking for

• Experience leading software teams and owning complex, stateful business systems in production
• Strong backend architecture judgment across APIs, databases, workflows, integrations, permissions, and internal tools
• Ability to model operational processes carefully and balance speed, correctness, reliability, and maintainability
• High ownership, practical judgment, and clear communication with technical and operational partners
• A track record of hiring, developing, and setting a high bar for engineers
• ERP, MES, manufacturing software, workflow systems, or applied AI experience is strongly preferred

Comp

• $150k-$175k annual salary
• Equity grant (early-stage, meaningful)
• Benefits and other details based on seniority and fit