Head of Cost Engineering

Humanoid is the first AI and robotics company in the UK, creating the world’s most advanced, reliable, commercially scalable, and safe humanoid robots. Our first humanoid robot HMND 01 is a next-gen labour automation unit, providing highly efficient services across various use cases, starting with industrial applications.


As we scale our product from prototype to production, we are looking for a Head of Cost Engineering to join our team based in London, UK.

Our Mission

At Humanoid we strive to create the world’s leading, commercially scalable, safe, and advanced humanoid robots that seamlessly integrate into daily life and amplify human capacity.

Vision

In a world where artificial intelligence opens up new horizons, our faith in its potential unveils a new outlook where, together, humans and machines build a new future filled with knowledge, inspiration, and incredible discoveries. The development of a functional humanoid robot underpins an era of abundance and well-being where poverty will disappear, and people will be able to choose what they want to do. We believe that providing a universal basic income will eventually be a true evolution of our civilization.

Solution

As the demands on our built environment rise, labour shortages loom. With the world’s workforce increasingly moving away from undesirable tasks, the manufacturing, construction, and logistics industries critical to our daily lives are left exposed. By deploying our general-purpose humanoid robots in environments deemed hazardous or monotonous, we envision a future where human well-being is safeguarded while closing the gaps in critical global labour needs.

Responsibilities

Cost Strategy & Governance

• Define and lead the company’s cost strategy across product development and manufacturing
• Establish the framework for cost ownership across departments (engineering, supply chain, production, finance)
• Create clear cost targets and accountability mechanisms tied to business and product goals
• Build and manage the cost roadmap for our current and future generations of hardware

Cost Modeling & Analysis

• Develop and maintain detailed cost models at component, system, and robot level
• Analyze BOM, labour, overhead, logistics, tariffs, and warranty to understand true total cost of ownership (TCO)
• Identify cost reduction opportunities through value engineering, design for cost, sourcing strategies, and process optimization
• Lead design-to-cost and should-cost analysis initiatives in partnership with engineering and procurement

Product Development Partnership

• Embed cost engineering practices within product development workflows (e.g. design reviews, change control, DFX gates)
• Provide early-stage cost input to engineering tradeoffs and architecture decisions
• Serve as a cross-functional voice of cost in design, sourcing, and make-vs-buy conversations
• Champion a cost-conscious mindset without sacrificing product performance or delivery pace

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with supply chain to align sourcing decisions with cost, quality, and delivery targets
• Work with finance to reconcile engineering cost models with accounting and forecasting
• Support manufacturing and operations in identifying process cost drivers and efficiency levers
• Present cost performance and tradeoff decisions to senior leadership and functional leads

Expertise

• 10+ years of experience in cost engineering, cost excellence, or related roles in hardware-intensive industries (e.g., robotics, automotive, aerospace, machinery)
• Demonstrated success building cost systems, driving value engineering, and influencing product decisions
• Strong analytical skills with deep understanding of BOM structure, cost modeling tools, and cost accounting principles
• Technical fluency across mechanical, electrical, and software-integrated systems
• Highly collaborative and detail-oriented with excellent communication and stakeholder management

Bonus Points

• Experience with should-cost tools and cost benchmarking databases
• Familiarity with procurement processes, supply chain cost drivers, and contract manufacturing
• Background in DFX (Design for Excellence), including design-to-cost and design-to-manufacture
• Passion for robotics, automation, and building complex electro-mechanical products

Benefits

• High competitive salary.
• 23 working days of vacation per year.
• Flexible working hours.
• Opportunity to work on the latest technologies in AI and Robotics.
• Startup model, offering a dynamic and innovative work environment.

How to Apply

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