---
title: 'VP, Government at Foundry Robotics Inc.'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/vp-government-foundry-robotics-inc-washington-36d0tkcb3nj2'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-12'
---

# VP, Government at Foundry Robotics Inc.

- **Company:** Foundry Robotics Inc.
- **Location:** Washington, DC
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-11-03
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/foundry-robotics/fd45600f-8ad9-4b0e-becd-ddd9bf631557

## Job description

## About Us

Foundry Robotics is building an AI-native robotics manufacturing company focused on deploying advanced assembly and production capability for leading robotics companies and national-security-critical hardware. Basically, we're building robots that build robots. We are reimagining manufacturing through advanced robotics. Our mission is to rebuild the American manufacturing industry as an AI-first, assembly-focused, dual-use contract manufacturer. We aim to empower manufacturers with intelligent, efficient, and adaptable robotic systems that redefine productivity and quality. As the leader of our government team, you will have a direct and significant impact on our product, culture, and ultimate success. This role is based in Washington, DC, with regular time at our headquarters in Emeryville, CA.

## The Role

Foundry builds factories for the defense industrial base. Robots do the work and the factory retools as fast as the design changes. We have real customers and real purchase orders. Now we need someone to own the government side of the house. Simple Version: You run any direct to government relationships and initiatives at Foundry Robotics. The Hill, the Department, the vehicles, and the teams we’ve built to support the campaigns. Today a few of us do this on top of our day jobs. You take it over.

## Key Responsibilities

- Non-dilutive capital. The Office of Strategic Capital, the SBIR ladder from first award to transition. Then DPA Title III, IBAS, ManTech, and appropriations. Policy to program.
- Take the NDAA language we fought for and shepherd it through OSD and the services. Run next year's NDAA and appropriations cycle with our DC teams.
- Vehicles. FFP, IDIQ or OTA so program offices and primes can buy from us fast.
- Lead our advisors. Give them the plan, check the work.
- The proposal machine. We're about to carry a lot of government contracts. Build the team that handles the volume: capture, proposals, compliance, pricing.

## What We're Looking For

Founder mentality: We love people who build like it's their own company. You move fast, take ownership, and find a way through when the path isn't obvious. You have the drive to make big things happen and the judgment to take smart risks along the way.

- 6+ years in OSD or service acquisition, on the Hill, or running government for a defense tech company. You've pulled in non-dilutive money or started a program. Names and numbers, not adjacent.
- You know industrial base policy and the folks who run it: OSC, DPA Title III, IBAS, ManTech, the defense apropos subcommittees.
- You've taken a bill from draft to markup to conference, and you know what to do with it after it passes.
- You've won a contract vehicle or run task orders under one: OTA, IDIQ, consortium.
- You write well and fast. Proposals, white papers, one-pagers, bill text.
- You've managed consultants before and know how to handle them.

## Nice to Have (Not Required)

- Active security clearance, or the ability to obtain one.
- Appropriations experience: HAC-D or SAC-D staff, OSD staff, or you've secured a program add.
- Manufacturing or industrial base experience: ManTech, the organic industrial base, the DIB consortia.
- Time inside a prime's government relations or capture shop. Why Join Us? This is one of the only places where world-class manufacturing operators, mechanical engineers, robotics researchers, and software engineers sit in the same room — building production systems together. We are committed to being deeply embedded in the U.S. industrial base. Our focus is simple: build adaptive robotic assembly systems that make American manufacturing scalable, resilient, and competitive again. If you want to run a mature, well-defined commercial org, this may not be the role. If you want to build the commercial engine that brings AI-driven manufacturing to every industrial and energy customer in America — this is it. The base salary range for this full-time position is: $250,000—$300,000 USD Compensation packages at Foundry Robotics for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position, determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, interview performance, and relevant education or training. Foundry Robotics employees in eligible roles are also granted equity based compensation, subject to Board of Director approval. You'll also receive benefits including, but not limited to: Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, and generous PTO.

Foundry Robotics is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

## About Foundry Robotics Inc.

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Foundry Robotics is an AI-first, assembly-focused robotics company rebuilding American manufacturing with advanced automation and production systems.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Seed stage)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2026
- **Founders**: Adarsh Kulkarni

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Robotics Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing, Defense & Dual-Use Contract Manufacturing
- **Target customers**: B2B, primarily defense contractors, hardware startups, and industrial companies needing flexible, small-to-medium scale assembly
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "AI-first, assembly-focused robotics that rebuilds American manufacturing—faster, more flexible, and ready for what’s next."

## Products & Services
- **Battery Pack Assembly**: Small to medium-scale battery pack assembly that streamlines the path from prototype to full-scale production, enabling faster iteration and secure domestic manufacturing.
- **Advanced Hardware Sub-Assemblies**: Rapid construction of complex mechanical assemblies for next-generation and legacy hardware using AI-driven robotic cells, eliminating the need for bespoke factories.
- **Defense & Dual-Use Robotics**: Modular robotic cells for defense and dual-use applications that enable rapid assembly of critical infrastructure through secure and resilient American supply chains.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding — $19M in seed funding (announced April 2026)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Khosla Ventures, Hanabi Capital, Red Glass Ventures, Zero Shot Fund
- **Growth Signals**: The company has grown from 14 employees to over 20 builders in a short period, with a monthly headcount growth rate of +26.7%. It opened its San Francisco HQ in May 2026, just 21 days after the space was still being opened with a sledgehammer. Website traffic is growing +128.4% month-over-month.

## Competitive Advantages
- **AI-first, assembly-focused approach**: Unlike traditional contract manufacturers that require bespoke factories, Foundry uses modular, AI-driven robotic cells that can be rapidly reconfigured for different products.
- **Dual-use capability**: Serving both defense and commercial applications, which opens up a large addressable market and provides mission-driven work.
- **Speed of iteration**: The company can go from prototype to full-scale production faster than traditional manufacturers, as demonstrated by opening its HQ in under a month.
- **Team pedigree**: The founding team includes talent from Tesla, Blue Origin, Scale AI, Google DeepMind, and the UPenn GRASP Lab.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling the engineering and manufacturing platform**: The company is actively hiring across robotics, AI, software, operations, and quality engineering roles to scale its platform.
- **Rebuilding American manufacturing**: Foundry is focused on creating a domestic, secure, and resilient supply chain for critical infrastructure, particularly for defense and dual-use applications.
- **Rapid iteration and deployment**: The company prioritizes speed, moving from concept to production floor in weeks, not years.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven work**: Employees directly contribute to rebuilding American manufacturing and strengthening national security through advanced robotics.
- **High-caliber team**: The team includes builders from Tesla, Blue Origin, Scale AI, Google DeepMind, and the UPenn GRASP Lab, offering a steep learning curve and exposure to cutting-edge technology.
- **Hybrid workspace**: The company operates a hybrid model with a strong in-office presence at its San Francisco HQ, which includes a factory floor where robots are built and deployed.
- **Early-stage impact**: As a seed-stage company, employees have significant ownership and influence over the product, culture, and direction of the company.
- **Rapid growth environment**: With a 26.7% monthly headcount growth rate and a focus on scaling, the company offers fast-paced career growth opportunities.

## Sources
1. [foundryrobotics.ai](https://foundryrobotics.ai/)
2. [LinkedIn - Foundry Robotics](https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundry-robotics)
3. [Built In - Foundry Robotics](https://builtin.com/company/foundry-robotics)
4. [Remix Reality - Foundry Robotics Raises $19 Million](https://www.remixreality.com/foundry-robotics-raises-19-million-to-build-ai-first-robotics-for-manufacturing/)
5. [Ashby - Foundry Robotics Careers](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/foundry-robotics)

## Other roles at Foundry Robotics Inc.

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- [Event Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/event-coordinator-foundry-robotics-inc-emeryville-70fyacv6tz3c) — Emeryville, CA
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- [Head of Manufacturing Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-manufacturing-engineering-foundry-robotics-inc-emeryville-tkcw4qyg5ys2) — Emeryville, CA
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