About us

unspun is a robotics and digital apparel company building custom jeans for each consumer, on-demand. Our mission is to reduce global carbon emissions by 1% through automated, localized, and intentional manufacturing. By using the iPhone Face ID sensor to create a digital avatar, we can instantly tailor and build each garment to the actual customer, delivering a completely custom product at off-the-rack prices— all while eliminating unsold inventory waste (a $150B/year loss industry-wide).

Recently included in Time's Best Inventions & Fast Company's World Changing Ideas, unspun aims to rapidly transition the trillion-dollar apparel world into one that is more intentional, inclusive, and efficient by focusing on the overlap between sustainability and profitability.

We also happen to make the best-fitting jeans on the planet.

What we're building

We’ve developed a proprietary and patent-pending technology at the crossroads of 3D printing and automated textile manufacturing. By skipping the flat 2D fabric stage, we can additively build custom apparel products from the ground up- straight from yarn to final product. If additive manufacturing, industrial automation, and synchronized systems of hundreds of sensors & actuators gets you excited, we’d love to talk!

About You

You enjoy working on early-stage teams and have experience building and validating mechanical systems. You thrive on the lack of clear answers at the outset of high-reaching projects and look forward to finding clarity and articulating it to others.

As part of the hardware team, you will build the mechanical systems for a completely new manufacturing process. We’re looking for someone with industry experience as a mechanical technician, and someone who is excited about the risks and rewards of joining a world-changing startup.

What you’ll do

• Assemble and validate complex mechanical assemblies according to engineering drawings and technical specifications
• Troubleshoot and resolve assembly-related issues
• Maintain a safe and organized workspace
• Perform routine maintenance on complex machinery
• Perform simple fabrication and parts modification
• Use measurement equipment to troubleshoot and diagnose machine issues
• Collaborate with engineers on experiments and results
• Conduct experiments to evaluate loom performance and output quality
• Operate and run advanced prototype textile manufacturing machinery
• Set up and adjust looms for prototype testing and limited production runs
• Analyze and communicate experiment results and machine states
• Create and maintain documentation for internal communication and record keeping
• Work collaboratively with others
• Identify and communicate suggested improvements to designs, documentation, or processes
• Be able to work on your feet for extended periods and perform occasional repetitive tasks

Our philosophy

We won’t roll our eyes if your socks don’t match. We get it. But then, if you spend those extra few minutes in the morning matching your socks and shirt, we get that too. Our workspaces are sometimes spotless and sometimes chaotic, and we celebrate messy exploration. We work through complex problems but generate simple and elegant solutions. We strive to look at things differently, and never do anything solely because “that’s the way it’s always been done.”

We’re a team of designers and engineers, industry-veterans and serial entrepreneurs, artists and developers. We’re aspiring chess masters and climbers, bakers and photographers. Originally spun out of Stanford and the University of Colorado, we now call the SF Bay Area home, with strong ties to Hong Kong. We are looking for teammates who share our desire to work on ambitious problems and leave the world better than we found it.

unspun is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to being a diverse team that reflects a broad range of background, thought, and experience. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, status as an individual with a disability, status as protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristics. Women, minorities, and people from underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Ideal Qualities

• 3-10 years of experience as a mechanical technician in mechanical assembly, basic fabrication, operating complex machinery, or working with textile equipment
• Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail
• Proficient in operating and setting up machinery
• Background or interest in textiles, weaving, and yarns
• Hands-on experience with experimentation and measurement equipment and instrumentation
• Understanding of mechatronics, moving parts, and sensors
• Strong understanding of technical engineering drawings, schematics, and manuals
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Bonus Points:

• Degree or coursework in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Textile Technology, Textile Engineering, or related field
• Knowledge of basic statistical concepts as applied to experimentation
• Experience in CAD
• Experience in fast-paced, early stage R&D projects
• Experience working with vendors or suppliers
• Experience with textile manufacturing

If you don't meet all of the requirements listed above, but can make up for it with a voracious passion to learn how to do so, we strongly encourage you to apply.

• self-regulated vacation policy
• comprehensive (gold & platinum) health/dental/vision insurance (or equivalent cash bonus if already insured)
• company sponsored 401k
• monthly gym membership or relevant online education grant of up to $150/month
• pre-tax commuter benefits
• incentive stock options