The posting
SF Bay Area (Palo Alto) · Full-Time · Onsite
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
At Foundational, we're building with people who want to own something — to do work that matters, in an environment where what you ship is what counts.
The people who thrive here:
- Take ownership before they're asked. They see the gap and close it.
- Operate with a high degree of judgment. We move fast, and good judgment travels farther than a playbook.
- Communicate directly — concise, clear, and candid, especially when stakes are high.
- Hold a high bar for themselves first, then for everyone around them.
- Are genuinely energized by hard problems in physical, real-world environments. Energized — not just interested.
- Stay effective when things are ambiguous, changing, or under pressure. That's the job.
This is a place for people who want to build something that has never existed before and leave a clear mark on it.
MISSION
We are looking for a Software Engineer specializing in Computational Geometry to design, build, and optimize the core geometric engines driving our automated manufacturing platforms. In this role, you will bridge abstract spatial algorithms with physical machine operations, converting complex 3D models into accurate toolpaths, process simulations, and machine instructions.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
CORE GEOMETRY & ALGORITHM DEVELOPMENT
- 3D Geometry Processing: Design, build, and maintain production-grade pipelines for manipulating diverse 3D representations, including boundary representations (B-Reps), NURBS surfaces, triangular meshes, and point clouds.
- Spatial & Numerical Algorithms: Implement robust algorithms for spatial partitioning/indexing, ray-mesh intersections, visibility analysis, collision detection, feature recognition, and surface fitting.
- Manufacturing & Toolpath Generation: Convert complex part geometry into reliable manufacturing instructions, motion trajectories, simulations, and CNC toolpaths.
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE & AI INTEGRATION
- Production Engineering: Architect high-performance, modular C++/Python/Rust libraries with strict numerical robustness, unit testing, and continuous performance optimization.
- Internal Tooling & Visualization: Build internal spatial visualization and debugging tools to analyze multi-dimensional geometric data and process outputs.
- AI & Automation Systems: Implement machine learning models and intelligent agents to translate natural language into machine macros, diagnose alarm codes, and generate control logic directly from live simulation data.
- Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Partner with mechanical, manufacturing, and controls engineers to connect software outputs directly to physical machine hardware.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related quantitative field.
CORE EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES
- 3D Software Development: Proven experience developing high-precision engineering software, CAD/CAM/CAE engines, robotics motion planners, metrology tools, or industrial automation pipelines.
- Programming Proficiency: Strong proficiency in C++, Python, or Rust, with a track record of writing clean, maintainable, and high-performance production code.
- Geometric Foundations: Deep understanding of 3D data structures (meshes, point clouds, parametric surfaces) and spatial queries.
- Software Architecture: Strong background in API design, modular system architecture, performance profiling, and debugging complex spatial code.
- Communication: Ability to clearly explain multi-dimensional concepts, spatial trade-offs, and system behaviors to multi-disciplinary teams.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- CAD/CAM Kernels & APIs: Direct experience working with geometric modeling kernels (e.g., Open CASCADE, Parasolid, ACIS) or CAD/CAM platforms (e.g., Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Rhino/Grasshopper, Onshape, Siemens NX, CATIA).
- Advanced Computational Geometry: Expertise in B-Rep topology manipulation, NURBS surface fitting, feature recognition from parametric models, mesh generation/triangulation, or spatial trees (Octrees, BVH).
- Machine Logic & CNC Manufacturing: Practical knowledge of CNC machine operations, G-code/M-code execution, toolpath clearance validation, or PLC machine logic.
- Applied Machine Learning: Hands-on experience developing ML models or LLM agents for spatial reasoning, automated feature detection, or physical systems.
- Industry Domain: Experience in hard-tech environments such as advanced manufacturing, robotics, aerospace, automotive, or semiconductor fabrication.
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 with base, bonus, and equity to 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.
