Softgoods Developer

About Us

Familiar Machines & Magic (FM&M) is building the Physical AI platform for human connection, beginning with Familiars — physically embodied AI systems designed to form long-term, emotionally intelligent relationships with people. Our mission is to create artificial life to build a more caring world.

Founded by industry leaders from iRobot, Outrider, and Amazon, our team has collectively deployed over 50 million consumer robots worldwide and led advances in navigation, machine learning, and human-robot interaction.

Familiar Machines & Magic is building a mission-driven team of high performers, anchored in our unique Culture Principles and Ways of Working.

Location: Boston (Woburn, MA) preferred with frequent travel to or Los Angeles Metro (Glendale, CA) — with occasional additional domestic and international travel as needed. Open to LA with frequent travel to Boston.

We’re looking for a Softgoods Developer to join our growing Industrial Design team and help bring the Familiar’s physical embodiment to life. Working closely with Hardware Engineering and our development partners, you will translate design intent into softgoods constructions that integrate naturally with the Familiar’s underlying mechanical systems while preserving its form, movement, and tactile qualities.

This is a highly hands-on role spanning materials, patterning, construction, prototyping, supplier development, and manufacturing follow-through. You will work across textiles, foams, elastomers, trims, closures, and other soft and flexible materials to build, evaluate, and refine solutions from early prototypes through development builds and production. The role will initially focus on softgoods integral to the Familiar’s physical embodiment, with broader opportunities across the product ecosystem.

The right candidate combines strong softgoods craft with practical product development and manufacturing experience. They are resourceful makers and problem solvers who enjoy rapid iteration, work comfortably across Design, Engineering, suppliers, and manufacturing partners, and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and culture-forward environment.

• Translate Industrial Design intent into softgoods constructions, patterns, materials, and assembly solutions that preserve the Familiar’s form, movement, and physical character.

• Build and iterate hands-on prototypes to evaluate and troubleshoot fit, construction, range of motion, tactile quality, durability, and integration with underlying hardware.

• Develop solutions across textiles, foams, elastomers, closures, trims, bonding, and other soft-material processes, balancing design intent with performance and manufacturability.

• Partner closely with Hardware Engineering, Operations, suppliers, and manufacturing partners to resolve soft-to-hard integration, construction, assembly, serviceability, and manufacturing challenges throughout development and production.

• Carry softgoods solutions from prototype through supplier development and production, including material and process development, sample reviews, specifications, construction documentation, build support, and manufacturing follow-through.

• 5+ years of experience developing technically integrated softgoods from concept through production, ideally in consumer electronics, robotics, wearables, sporting goods, footwear, or related categories.

• Deep hands-on expertise in pattern making, sewing, bonding, and softgoods prototyping, with experience across processes such as molding and lamination.

• Strong knowledge of technical textiles, foams, elastomers, trims, closures, and their performance and manufacturing characteristics.

• Expe…