At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the engineering delivery of cutting-edge humanoid robots for industrial applications.
- Company: Join Humanoid, a pioneering tech company revolutionising robotics.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a collaborative team with top talent across multiple locations.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of robotics innovation and make a real-world impact.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in engineering leadership with a strong software background.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 180000 £ per year.
Here at Humanoid, we believe in a future where robots amplify human potential. That’s why we’ve set out on a mission to build the world’s most capable, commercially-scalable, and safe humanoid robots. We’re bringing that mission to life with HMND‑01 Alpha - our rapidly developed humanoid platform now running in real industrial pilots - and we’re growing the team to take it even further.
About Humanoid
We're building the first commercially deployed humanoid robots for industrial environments. Our wheeled industrial robot is in active customer pilots today — Schaeffler, Bosch, Siemens and others publicly named — with the first beta fleet shipping in 2026 and production scaling over the years that follow. Our engineering leadership comes from Boston Dynamics, Amazon Robotics, Brain Corp, Sanctuary AI, Yandex Self-Driving, Nebius, Cloudflare, and Google. Between us, the team has collectively deployed hundreds of thousands of robots into real-world operation. We are well-capitalized with significant runway, and run one of the densest concentrations of robotics and AI talent across Europe, the US, and Canada. Offices in London (HQ), Vancouver, Boston, and San Diego.
Why this bet
Most humanoid efforts are racing toward fully general-purpose bipeds with five-fingered hands. We made a different call — informed by direct customer conversations and a team that has actually deployed robots at fleet scale in prior companies. Our wedge is the practical one: wheeled industrial humanoids that solve real customer problems today, on a generalized hardware platform with generalized learning paradigms.
What that means for the role:
The combination of generalized hardware and generalized learning lets us deploy and integrate astonishingly fast — high-performance capability landing in customer facilities in days to weeks, not quarters. Industrial customers used to the multi-quarter integration cycles that are the industry norm consistently tell us this looks different. It is.
How we think about AI
The AI stack is our long-term flywheel. We are aggressively pushing the envelope on modern robot learning — fleet learning, embodied agents, foundation models for autonomy — and leveraging AI agents across the product workflow itself. The platform is generalized enough that a capability trained once propagates across every robot in the field.
The role
You will be the single engineering owner of industrial product delivery — the person who, across hardware, software, AI, and system integration, makes sure what we ship is what our customers actually need, in the order they need it, on the timeline they need it. You won't run a siloed sub-org. You will work as a peer to our functional engineering leaders — hardware, software, AI, test — leading prioritization for engineers dedicated to the industrial product. Think of this as a technical GM for industrial: you own what and when; you partner with functional leads who own how. This role reports directly to the CTO.
What you'll do
- Own end-to-end engineering delivery for the industrial product — from design, through pilots, through scale and iteration in the field — across HW, SW, AI, and system integration & test.
- Direct prioritization for the engineers hard-allocated to industrial across our matrixed functions (industrial / common / home).
- Partner closely with functional leads on shared platform work, and with Ops on manufacturing readiness.
- Be the single source of truth on industrial engineering delivery and forward roadmap for the CEO, Commercial team, Product, and customers.
- Build a delivery engine that releases production software on a fast, predictable cadence and that scales beyond the first industrial product line.
What you bring
- 15+ years in engineering leadership, with a track record of shipping multi-disciplinary HW/SW/AI products at meaningful scale.
- Software-biased background. Most of the long-term work here is software and AI — deployment, fleet learning, capability iteration.
- Deep understanding of the industrial market — what real industrial customers in logistics, manufacturing, automotive and adjacent verticals actually buy, integrate, and rely on.
- UK or EU industrial experience is a strong plus; US industrial deployment experience is equally valued.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through influence in a matrix — you have driven outcomes across teams you didn’t directly manage, and you can show how.
- You have taken product from zero to one, and have delighted customers with innovative solutions to solve their real pain points.
- Deep technical credibility across HW, SW, and modern AI — enough to debate functional leads as a peer, not just review their work.
- Comfort operating across distributed teams (London, Boston, Vancouver, San Diego).
- Calibrated for the pace of a company moving from prototype to production at the same time it’s raising and growing.
What success looks like at 12 months
- Long term pilots transition smoothly into scaled deployments at multiple customer locations.
- Robots in reliable operation around the clock, delivering to strict SLAs.
- HW, SW, and AI are all moving at best-in-class quality — none of the three is sacrificed to hit a near-term gate.
Location London required. The role requires daily proximity to the people you’ll be coordinating with across engineering/ops/product/business.
VP of Industrial Engineering employer: Thehumanoid
At Humanoid, we are committed to fostering a dynamic and innovative work environment where our employees can thrive. As a leader in the robotics industry, we offer unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and collaboration with top talent from renowned companies. Our London headquarters provides a vibrant setting that encourages creativity and teamwork, making it an exciting place to contribute to groundbreaking technology that amplifies human potential.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land VP of Industrial Engineering
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time VP of Industrial Engineering role you’re after at Thehumanoid.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at Thehumanoid a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at Thehumanoid.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like VP of Industrial Engineering at Thehumanoid, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace VP of Industrial Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like VP of Industrial Engineering, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at Thehumanoid a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to Thehumanoid specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Thehumanoid
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with Thehumanoid, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like Thehumanoid want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.