Are you looking for an opportunity to transform the commercialisation journey of a key UK technology development?
Do you have experience scaling businesses in deep tech and are looking for a way to use those skills to help others?
Do you care about UK technology “getting it right”?
The Shadow Robot Company is the longest running British robotics company. We are world leaders in robot hands for advancing dexterity, with an international presence, and we pride ourselves in being employee owned.
Shadow has spent nearly three decades building the most advanced robotic hands in the world, trusted by OpenAI, Google DeepMind, MIT, ESA, NASA, and top-tier research labs. It has deep systems expertise in human-like dexterity, with a broad network of customers and collaborators across the cutting edge of dexterous robots.
Unlike most early-stage robotics companies, Shadow brings mature, modular platforms, a full-stack engineering team with experience iterating rapidly on both deep technology development and entrepreneurial prototyping, a strong IP position, and institutional credibility with elite partners across AI, and Automation.
Care about one another.
Challenge the impossible.
No bullshit. No assholes.
Be compassionate.
When we add new people to our team, wherever you’re based and whatever role you’re doing, you’ll see that we all live and breathe these core values.
Currently, Shadow is undertaking two projects as part of ARIA’s Robot Dexterity Program, which are at the edge of what’s technically possible:
OGRES, a generative design framework for building and evaluating robotic hands, and
UPWARD, a novel actuation system enabling lightweight, high-function dexterous control.
With ARIA’s support, Shadow is now exploring whether these technologies could form the foundation of a new commercial spinout, built around real-world demand for robotic dexterity.
A search is underway for an experienced founder to potentially launch this new spinout with a significant ownership stake—defining what this venture could look like and building around Shadow’s unique technical foundation.
Defining high-value use cases
Mapping viable paths to adoption
Devising a compelling spinout structure
Founding and leading the spinout
Building early commercial traction
Commercial opportunity discovery
Venture & spin-out design
Proof of demand
Support institutional navigation (Work with ARIA, academic partners, and potential investors to ensure clear IP paths, stakeholder alignment.
Act as a strategic bridge (Serve as the commercial ‘eyes and ears’ for Shadow during technology development)
Background in robotics, hard tech, or deep tech commercialisation
Evidence of market navigation
Builder mindset with systems fluency
Robust networks in UK/US robotics, manufacturing, or automation
This is not a conventional EiR gig—it’s a chance to design and potentially lead a venture at the edge of what’s technically possible, with real backing and the freedom to shape your own path.
High autonomy and creative control to define the spinout strategy
A strong ownership stake if the spinout proceeds
Access to both mature and frontier tech
Direct access to Shadow’s world-class engineers, giving you a powerful starting point
The full support of ARIA, including access to national networks, and deep venture translation expertise
A platform to become a recognised leader in the next wave of dexterous robotics
Whether you go on to found and lead the company or serve as the architect of its formation, this is an opportunity to shape the commercial future of advanced dexterous robotics
If this sounds like your next career move, please apply here and our team will be in touch.
EiR@shadowrobot.com