Build AI is the data hyperscaler for Physical AI. We're vertically integrated across hardware, manufacturing, logistics, collection, and model training to scale the physical labor dataset orders of magnitude faster than anyone in the world.
Job SummaryWe're hiring industrial design in Shenzhen for the objects people actually wear and use while they work. A camera hat, a mount, a device that has to look like it belongs on a job site, not a prototype taped to a hard hat. A generalist who can also do mechanical design is strongly preferred.
Key ResponsibilitiesOwn industrial design from early concept through production: form, wearability, how it sits on a worker, how it comes apart for service
Explore and communicate through sketching, CAD, rendering, and physical prototypes (3D print and factory samples)
Develop CMF and take designs through vendors: DFM, samples, and the version that actually ships
Work with mechanical and PCB so the board, battery, camera, and enclosure are one object
Keep it simple enough to manufacture at the volume we need, and good enough that people will actually wear it all day
Collaborate with Head of Design & Taste in SF on the bar; you make the thing in Shenzhen
Portfolio of shipped physical products, not only renders. Wearables, tools, or devices used in the real world are a plus
Strong ID fundamentals: sketching, form, proportion, detailing, and 3D modeling (SolidWorks, Onshape, Rhino, or similar)
You can go from sketch to factory sample, and you know when a curve is going to break tooling
Understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and designing for production
Fine in Shenzhen, with vendors, and iterating in a factory instead of only in Keyshot
Taste is obvious. You will not ship something that looks like a science fair
Mechanical design (CAD, enclosures, mounts, stackups). We would rather hire a generalist than ID-only
KeyShot or equivalent visualization
Experience with wearables or products worn for a full shift
Competitive pay
Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage
$500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits
Housing subsidy of $2k per month for those living within walking distance of the office
Relocation support for those moving to San Francisco (Financial District) or Shenzhen (Nanshan)
Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more
Daily lunch and dinner in our office
Unlimited compute budget subject to ROI justification
Unlimited Codex and Claude credits
Travel
Build believes in the Bitter Lesson. By taking a general approach of learning from humans, our addressable market is all physical labor.
We are a fully in-person team in San Francisco (Financial District) and Shenzhen (Nanshan), and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both and work across disciplines as needed.
Build AI is an equal opportunity employer. We review every application. If you do not meet every bullet, still apply. Questions: [email protected]
Skills Required
- Portfolio of shipped physical products, not only renders
- Strong industrial design fundamentals, including sketching, form, proportion, detailing, and 3D modeling
- Proficiency with SolidWorks, Onshape, Rhino, or similar 3D modeling software
- Ability to take designs from sketches through factory samples
- Understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and design for production
- Willingness to work in Shenzhen with vendors and iterate in a factory environment
- Mechanical design experience with CAD, enclosures, mounts, or stackups
- KeyShot or equivalent visualization experience
- Experience with wearables or products worn for a full shift
What We Do
Build AI is a public benefit corporation and data hyperscaler for Physical AI. It integrates hardware manufacturing, logistics, data collection, and model training to scale egocentric physical-labor datasets for researchers and labs. Its mission is to solve physical labor and unlock human potential, advancing robotics and physical superintelligence. The company operates in San Francisco and Shenzhen and develops economically useful human-data infrastructure.






