Watney Robotics· startup· Information Technology And Services· Sep 10, 2026 · 2mo ago
San Francisco
Location
In office
Work mode
Full-time
Schedule
Manager
Level
$145K–$180K est.
Estimated compensation
Job description
OUR MISSION
Expand human ambition in the physical world.
Critical infrastructure is constrained by labor shortages, hazardous working conditions, and operational complexity. Watney builds and deploys autonomous robotic systems that increase the speed and capacity of buildout, starting with data centers.
ABOUT THE ROLE
At Watney, the Finance Manager is the first dedicated finance hire. This role owns financial strategy: building the forecasting, cash management, and reporting structure the company needs as it grows, and becoming the strategic partner leadership relies on to make spend decisions.
This person will build the function from scratch, helping the company navigate new site leases, manufacturer builds, and vendor contract negotiation.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
• Build financial planning, reporting, and budgeting processes from the ground up.
• Own cash management and forecasting.
• Bring vendor contracts and spend approvals under real financial process.
YOU MAY BE A GOOD FIT IF YOU:
• Have built a finance function at an early-stage startup from close to zero.
• Have modeled cash and capital needs through a manufacturing or hardware scale-up.
• Are comfortable being the first finance hire with no existing systems to inherit.
We’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive team. At Watney Robotics, we welcome people of all backgrounds and identities, and we make hiring decisions based on skills, experience, and potential. If you’re passionate about robotics but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply!
CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE?
Follow us here on X x.com and LinkedIn linkedin.com
Requirements
Must-haves
This person will build the function from scratch, helping the company navigate new site leases, manufacturer builds, and vendor contract negotiation.
Build financial planning, reporting, and budgeting processes from the ground up.
Own cash management and forecasting.
Bring vendor contracts and spend approvals under real financial process.
YOU MAY BE A GOOD FIT IF YOU:
Have built a finance function at an early-stage startup from close to zero.
Have modeled cash and capital needs through a manufacturing or hardware scale-up.
Are comfortable being the first finance hire with no existing systems to inherit.
CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE?
Nice-to-haves
None flagged.
Application prep
Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.