--- title: 'Head of Industrial Design at Dexmate' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-industrial-design-dexmate-fremont-7mt1ekmkpsy3' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-06' --- # Head of Industrial Design at Dexmate - **Company:** Dexmate - **Location:** Fremont, CA - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-09-03 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/dexmate/58b5cf9c-724a-46a9-8c9a-927283d4b6b3 ## Job description ## ABOUT DEXMATE Dexmate is building the platform for Physical AI. Our mission is to make robotics accessible by combining world-class robotic hardware with an intelligent software platform that enables developers and enterprises to build, deploy, and scale autonomous robots. We believe exceptional products are created when engineering excellence meets exceptional design. Every interaction—from the robot itself to our developer platform, mobile apps, website, documentation, packaging, and brand—should feel like one cohesive experience. We’re looking for a Head of Industrial Design to define and elevate every aspect of the Dexmate design language. ## THE ROLE As Head of Industrial Design, you will define the creative and design vision across the entire company. You will lead a multidisciplinary design organization spanning industrial design, product design, user experience, visual design, brand, creative, and product visualization. You will establish a unified design language that connects our robots, software, AI experiences, and brand into one seamless ecosystem. This is both a strategic and hands-on leadership role. You will build and mentor an exceptional team while remaining deeply involved in product direction, design reviews, and critical creative decisions. You will work closely with Product, Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing, and Executive Leadership to ensure design excellence is embedded throughout the company. ## WHAT YOU’LL DO ## DEFINE THE DESIGN VISION - Define and evolve Dexmate’s end-to-end design philosophy. - Create a unified design language across hardware, software, AI, and brand. - Establish an exceptionally high standard for craftsmanship, simplicity, usability, and aesthetics. - Ensure every customer touchpoint reflects a consistent and premium experience. ## LEAD THE DESIGN ORGANIZATION Build and lead a multidisciplinary design team including: - Product Design (UX/UI) - Industrial Design - Brand Design - Graphic Design - Motion Design - 3D Visualization - User Research - Design Systems Recruit, mentor, and develop world-class designers while fostering a strong culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. ## DESIGN THE NEW-GEN ROBOTS - Lead design of Dexmate's next-generation robot platforms — defining what future robots look like before the market does. - Drive early-stage concept exploration for upcoming robot generations: new form factors, new capabilities, new interaction paradigms. - Partner with Robotics, AI, and Hardware Engineering to translate emerging capabilities (new actuators, sensors, on-device intelligence) into forward-looking design concepts, well ahead of production timelines. - Set the design roadmap for future hardware generations, balancing bold, category-defining ideas with what can realistically ship. ## DRIVE PRODUCT EXPERIENCE Partner with Product Management and Engineering to define product direction from early concept through production. Lead design across: - Robot hardware - AI interaction experiences - Cloud platform - Developer tools - Mobile applications - Web experiences - Fleet management - Packaging - Accessories - Documentation Champion human-centered design while balancing engineering feasibility, manufacturability, cost, and business objectives. ## BUILD DESIGN SYSTEMS - Establish scalable design systems for software interfaces. - Define industrial design standards across all hardware products. - Create visual identity guidelines covering typography, color, materials, iconography, motion, illustration, photography, and 3D assets. - Develop repeatable design processes that enable rapid product development while maintaining consistency. ## BRAND & CREATIVE LEADERSHIP Oversee creative direction for: - Product launches - Website - Marketing campaigns - Trade show experiences - Product videos - Photography - Packaging - Sales collateral - Developer experience Ensure every external expression of Dexmate reflects a world-class brand. ## CROSS-FUNCTIONAL LEADERSHIP Collaborate closely with: - Product Management - Hardware Engineering - Robotics Engineering - AI Engineering - Software Engineering - Manufacturing - Operations - Sales & Marketing - Customer Success Represent design at the executive level and advocate for design quality in strategic decision-making. ## WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR - 12+ years of experience in product, industrial, UX, or multidisciplinary design. - Experience leading high-performing design organizations. - Proven track record shipping world-class hardware and software products. - Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional design taste, execution, and systems thinking. - Deep understanding of industrial design, user experience, interaction design, and visual communication. - Ability to inspire multidisciplinary teams and establish a strong design culture. - Excellent communication and executive presentation skills. - Comfortable working in a fast-moving startup environment. - Experience designing robotics, automotive, consumer electronics, AI products, or developer platforms. - Experience with design systems at scale. - Knowledge of manufacturing processes, CMF, and DFM. - Experience working with AI-driven user experiences. - Familiarity with CAD, Figma, 3D visualization, rendering, animation, and rapid prototyping workflows. ## YOU’LL THRIVE HERE IF YOU - Have exceptional design taste and uncompromising attention to detail. - Obsess over the complete customer experience—not just individual screens or products. - Think in systems rather than isolated features. - Balance creativity with engineering and business constraints. - Build teams that raise the quality bar for the entire company. - Believe great design makes advanced technology feel simple, intuitive, and delightful. ## About Dexmate ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Dexmate builds general-purpose robots with manipulation capabilities, integrating custom hardware with AI models for robotic operation. - **Entity Type**: Private (Seed Stage) - **Headquarters**: Santa Clara, California, United States - **Founded**: 2024 - **Founders**: Tao Chen (Co-Founder, CEO), Yuzhe Qin (Co-Founder, CTO), Chongyang Wang (Co-Founder) ## Core Business - Primary industry/industries: Robotics Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Automation - Target customers: B2B (enterprise, logistics, manufacturing, and research organizations) - Mission or purpose statement: "Building tomorrow's intelligence and automation." ## Products & Services - **[Vega]**: A general-purpose mobile robot with high-payload arms, dexterous hands, a foldable torso, and an omnidirectional base. The robot is powered by custom-built hardware integrated with AI models for physical robotic operation. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available - **Key Metric**: Total Funding raised via a Seed Round (closed ~March 2026) with participation from LG Technology Ventures as a lead investor. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: LG Technology Ventures (lead investor), LG CNS (strategic partner for building Physical AI infrastructure for smart logistics). - **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew +328.6% year-over-year (from ~4 to 18 employees). LinkedIn followers grew +67.8% yearly. In April 2026, launched the "Dexmate Build with Vega U Research Grant Program," selecting six research teams to receive a Vega robot. Strong hiring momentum with 11 active job postings as of mid-2026. ## Competitive Advantages - **Integrated Hardware + AI Stack**: Designs custom high-payload arms, dexterous hands, and omnidirectional bases specifically for AI-driven manipulation, creating a tight hardware-software moat. - **Physical AI Focus**: Differentiating by building "Physical AI" that moves beyond lab settings into real-world logistics and manufacturing, as evidenced by the partnership with LG CNS. - **Rapid Scaling**: Demonstrated ability to grow headcount and attract top-tier talent from institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, UC San Diego, and companies like NVIDIA and Bosch. ## Strategic Focus - **Physical AI Infrastructure**: Partnering with LG CNS to build the infrastructure that enables Physical AI to operate in smart logistics and manufacturing environments. - **Research & Ecosystem**: Grant programs to seed the research community with Vega robots, driving platform adoption and innovation. - **Talent Acquisition**: Aggressively hiring across engineering (AI, robotics, embedded systems), design, product management, and business development to scale the team. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-Driven**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge general-purpose robotics and Physical AI, moving technology from labs to real-world impact. - **Engineering-Heavy Culture**: 60% of employees are in technical roles (AI, robotics, software, hardware), with a strong emphasis on hands-on building. - **Fast-Growing Startup**: ~328% headcount growth in one year, indicating high trajectory and opportunity for early employees to have outsized impact. - **Location**: HQ in Santa Clara, CA (Silicon Valley), with an in-office work policy (on-site workspace). - **Compensation**: Engineering roles list salary ranges like $100K–$300K, competitive for the robotics/AI space. - **Notable Culture Signals**: "Build with us" hiring language, active LinkedIn community (4,273 followers), and a focus on "smile, reach out, and instantly connect" suggests a collaborative, builder-oriented environment. ## Sources 1. [dexmate.ai](https://www.dexmate.ai/) 2. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/dexmate](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/dexmate) 3. [builtin.com/company/dexmate](https://builtin.com/company/dexmate) 4. [craft.co/dexmate](https://craft.co/dexmate) 5. [linkedin.com/company/dexmate](https://www.linkedin.com/company/dexmate) ## Other roles at Dexmate - [Solutions Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/solutions-engineer-dexmate-fremont-k6p0vss10pn5) — Fremont, CA - [Lab Operations Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/lab-operations-specialist-dexmate-fremont-d2xzhhgzxe8n) — Fremont, CA - [Technical Program Manager, Software Platform](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-program-manager-software-platform-dexmate-fremont-kzwa1qa2q9n7) — Fremont, CA - [Robotics Data Collection Operator](https://feeny.ai/job/robotics-data-collection-operator-dexmate-fremont-9gmkq9s3b2ff) — Fremont, CA - [Senior Software Engineer, Fleet & Edge](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-fleet-edge-dexmate-fremont-k1465hhkp6m6) — Fremont, CA - [Software Quality & Release Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/software-quality-release-engineering-dexmate-fremont-1ymrt60ard3x) — Fremont, CA - [Senior Software Engineer, Data & Model](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-data-model-dexmate-fremont-hjwkncghj73s) — Fremont, CA - [People Operations & Recruiting Partner](https://feeny.ai/job/people-operations-recruiting-partner-dexmate-fremont-9fyeqzr38j4b) — Fremont, CA - [Growth Marketing Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/growth-marketing-manager-dexmate-fremont-10fbr7t7tktm) — Fremont, CA - [Financial Controller](https://feeny.ai/job/financial-controller-dexmate-fremont-bhftbp8akmj1) — Fremont, CA