Foundational Industries · NYC · Full-Time

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

Foundational is building AI-native autonomous factories. The capital to fund them — and the acquisitions, retrofits, and vehicles that surround them — needs a disciplined architect. You will lead underwriting, diligence, and capital formation across Foundational's platforms, partnering directly with the CEO on deal execution and investor engagement. You are the connective tissue between industrial operations and capital markets. Without this role, Foundational cannot scale.

OUTCOMES — What Success Looks Like in 6–12 Months

• [6 months] Full underwriting process operational — financial model templates, IC memo structure, and diligence playbook in place for manufacturing acquisitions and automation retrofit opportunities.

• [6 months] Initial LP and co-investor relationships established; first close or significant capital commitment secured for at least one Foundational investment vehicle.

• [6 months] Deal pipeline built with qualified origination channels — investment bankers, corporate development teams, and direct owner relationships actively tracking.

• [12 months] Two or more manufacturing facility acquisitions or retrofit investments fully underwritten and closed, with post-close margin uplift tracking in place.

• [12 months] Capital formation process institutionalized — investor reporting, LP communications, and capital stack management running without the CEO as the primary driver.

• [12 months] Investment strategy clearly articulated internally and externally, with Foundational positioned credibly in the industrial automation investment market.

SKILLS

• You have 10+ years in private equity, investment banking, corporate development, or a comparable investment role inside an industrial operator or strategic investor.

• You build LBO and DCF models from scratch — not from templates — and you can stress-test manufacturing unit economics against automation cost curves and throughput assumptions.

• You have raised capital from institutional LPs, family offices, or strategic investors, and you can run an investor process without being managed through it.

• You have evaluated industrial, infrastructure, or real-asset investments and understand the operational drivers behind the financials: cost structure, throughput, labor, and margin.

• You have written IC memos and investment materials that got deals done — not just summarized them.

• You can manage legal, technical, and operations workstreams simultaneously during execution without dropping the thread.

• You can walk a factory floor and ask the right questions — not just review the numbers the operator hands you.

COMPETENCIES

These are the behavioral patterns that predict success here — in practice, under pressure.

• Accountability — You own outcomes. If something's off track, you say so and fix it.

• Bias for action — You ship. You iterate. You move toward the hard thing.

• Clarity of communication — Direct and concise, especially when it counts.

• Learning agility — You get up to speed fast in unfamiliar territory.

• Resilience — You stay sharp when things are hard, ambiguous, or moving fast.

• High standards — You raise the bar rather than match it — and hold yourself to it first.

• Builder mentality — You have operated as a function of one. You are energized by building systems from scratch, and comfortable being the person who figures it out before asking for help.

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.