Foundation
Automotive & MobilityDirect Rippling career site

Chief Battery Engineer/Team Lead

Pay
$220,000 – $400,000 per year
Location
San Francisco, CA · On-site
Job type
Full-time
Level
Lead / Staff
Listed
30 days ago

Skills & highlights for this role

  • battery pack design
  • thermal management
  • BMS integration

Also useful

  • COMSOL
  • FEA
  • CAD

Stated benefits & perks

  • Health
  • Vision
  • Dental
  • 401k

Why We Are Hiring for This Role

  • At Foundation, we're developing robotics programs, where batteries are crucial for powering high-performance tasks such as enabling extended runtimes in dynamic environments.
  • To supply optimized batteries across all programs, we need a Battery Team Lead who can drive expertise in packaging, thermal management, and charging systems.
  • This role will focus on leveraging off-the-shelf cells while innovating in areas like BMS integration, sensitivity analyses for trade-offs, and compatibility with actuators or compute systems.
  • By building this in-house capability, we'll reduce vendor dependencies, accelerate prototyping for program-specific needs, and achieve cost efficiencies while delivering state-of-the-art energy density and cycle life.
  • Operating as a "startup within a startup," this position will enable rapid iterations, resource optimization, and tailored solutions for challenges like liquid cooling feasibility or risk assessments in swappable vs. integrated architectures.

What Kind of Person Are We Looking For

  • A hands-on technical leader in battery systems for robotics, EVs, or aerospace, focused on packaging, thermals, and charging rather than cell manufacturing, with a founder mindset to maximize efficiency by squeezing timelines and stretching budgets.
  • Deep expertise in pack design, thermal solutions, charging optimization, and BMS for safety/reliability across programs.
  • Proficiency in tools like COMSOL for simulations, CAD for assemblies, and hands-on testing, with experience collaborating on cross-functional integrations.
  • Ideal background from companies where you've supplied batteries to multiple projects and demonstrated resourcefulness in lean environments.
  • A player-coach who dives into details like FEA for thermal trade-offs or sensitivity analyses, while strategically roadmapping for multi-program scalability.
  • Bonus knowledge in robotics contexts, such as compatibility with actuator interconnects or designs like thigh linkages.
  • Enthusiasm for agile, startup-style operations with a proactive approach to innovation and cost control, leading the battery team to breakthroughs across all Foundation programs.

Benefits

We provide market standard benefits (health, vision, dental, 401k, etc.). Join us for the culture and the mission, not for the benefits.

Salary

The annual compensation is expected to be between $220,000.00 - $400,000.00. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

  • About Company ---

About Us

Foundation is developing the future of general purpose robotics with the goal to address the labor shortage.

Our mission is to create advanced robots that can operate in complex environments, reducing human risk in conflict zones and enhancing efficiency in labor-intensive industries.

We are on the lookout for extraordinary engineers and scientists to join our team. Your previous experience in robotics isn't a prerequisite — it's your talent and determination that truly count.

We expect that many of our team members will bring diverse perspectives from various industries and fields. We are looking for individuals with a proven record of exceptional ability and a history of creating things that work.

All positions are based in San Francisco.

Our Culture

We like to be frank and honest about who we are, so that people can decide for themselves if this is a culture they resonate with.

Who should join: You like working in person with a team in San Francisco.

You deeply believe that this is the most important mission for humanity and needs to happen yesterday.

You are highly technical - regardless of the role you are in. We are building technology; you need to understand technology well.

You care about aesthetics and design inside out. If it's not the best product ever, it bothers you, and you need to “fix” it.

You don't need someone to motivate you; you get things done.

Read the original posting

From Foundation's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 10, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.

How Rolev.ai helps with this application

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Common questions

What is the salary for the Chief Battery Engineer/Team Lead role at Foundation?

The Chief Battery Engineer/Team Lead posting at Foundation states compensation of $220,000 – $400,000 per year. It is listed as a full-time position. Final pay may depend on location, experience, and interview evaluation on Foundation's official career site.

Where is the Chief Battery Engineer/Team Lead job at Foundation located?

This Chief Battery Engineer/Team Lead position at Foundation is located in San Francisco, CA (On-site). Always check Foundation's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.

What qualifications are required for Chief Battery Engineer/Team Lead at Foundation?

For the Chief Battery Engineer/Team Lead role, Foundation highlights experience with battery pack design, thermal management, BMS integration. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.

How do I apply for the Chief Battery Engineer/Team Lead position at Foundation?

This listing links directly to Foundation's Rippling application page. You can apply directly on Foundation's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Rippling application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.