Inventory Specialist
Humanoid
About this role
Here at Humanoid, we believe in a future where robots amplify human potential. That’s why we’ve set out on a mission to build the world’s most capable, commercially-scalable, and safe humanoid robots. We’re bringing that mission to life with HMND‑01 - our rapidly developed humanoid platform being deployed in real industrial environments - and we’re growing the team to take it even further.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As our Inventory Specialist, you'll make sure our engineers always have the right parts, in the right place, at the right time. You will run day-to-day receiving, storage, stock control, cycle counting and kitting for the hardware side of a small, fast-moving team of around 40 engineers building cutting-edge humanoid robots. site, keeping material flowing accurately into prototype builds. This is a senior individual-contributor role: we need someone competent and self-directed who can run the site’s stores with minimal supervision.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Boston Site Focus
- Be the first dedicated hands-on warehouse resource in Boston, setting up and organising the stores area, location structure and labelling, and supporting the site’s prototype builds with accurate receiving, storage and kitting.
- Get the site’s prototype material ready for builds, working with the SCM Lead Boston and the local Senior Buyer on inbound material and priorities, including long lead-time items, so shortages are flagged early.
- Keep stock records and inventory reporting aligned with the other Humanoid sites so material can be seen and planned globally, and help shape how the site tracks inventory as it grows.
- Follow OSHA and applicable Massachusetts workplace safety requirements, including safe handling and storage of materials.
Goods Receiving & Put-away
- Receive inbound deliveries from suppliers, carriers and 3PL partners; check paperwork against the purchase order and inspect goods for damage, shortages or non-conformance.
- Record goods receipts accurately on the day of arrival in JIRA and the site’s inventory tracking sheets, and put material away to the correct, labelled location.
- Segregate and record quarantined, rejected and non-conforming stock, and support the return-to-supplier process with the SCM and quality teams.
- Handle ESD-sensitive, high-value, serialised and lot-controlled components with the care they need, maintaining traceability from receipt to build.
Inventory Control & Stock Accuracy
- Run daily and weekly cycle counts to the global schedule, investigate variances at root cause, and record adjustments with proper authorisation.
- Own stock accuracy for the site: keep physical stock, inventory records and locations in agreement, and report accuracy KPIs to the SCM Lead and global WILP team.
- Set, review and maintain minimum / maximum (safety stock) levels for the site’s consumables, common parts and high-usage items, working with the SCM Lead and the planning team, and raise replenishment requests before stock runs short.
- Support periodic and year-end stocktakes, and flag ageing, excess, obsolete or slow-moving stock early.
- Keep every movement (transfers, issues, returns, scrap) recorded in JIRA and the inventory sheets in real time, so no stock goes untracked.
- Use Excel or Google Sheets, and AI tools where they help, to build and maintain count plans, stock reports and variance analysis, and to automate repetitive tracking tasks.
Material Movement, Kitting & Build Support
- Pick, stage and deliver kits to the build area against BOM and build schedule, and check kits are complete and correct before release.
- Respond to urgent pick requests and shortages from engineering and production, and give procurement and planning a clear, early view of material gaps.
- Manage material issues to builds and returns of unused material back to stock, with accurate records throughout.
- Move material between storage, kitting, build and test areas safely using pallet trucks and other manual handling.
Dispatch, Returns & Inter-site Transfers
- Prepare outbound shipments, supplier returns and rework loops, and arrange collection with carriers or 3PL partners.
- Prepare accurate shipping and customs paperwork for parts and sub-assemblies moving between Humanoid sites (London, Boston and Vancouver), working with the Logistics team so shipments clear without delay.
- Track inbound and outbound shipments and chase delays before they affect builds.
Site Operations, Safety & Continuous Improvement
- Keep the stores area clean, organised, safe and compliant with local health and safety requirements.
- Maintain location structure, labelling and storage layout, and apply 5S principles.
- Support the site asset register by tagging, locating and verifying tools, fixtures and equipment held in stores, and keeping custody and location records up to date. Ownership of the master asset list sits outside this role.
- Suggest and help implement practical improvements to receiving, storage, kitting and counting processes, and follow global warehouse and inventory SOPs.
- Cover the site’s warehouse needs independently, and escalate issues that need SCM Lead or global WILP support in good time.
Expectations
- Work with a high degree of autonomy, setting your own daily priorities with minimal supervision.
- Act as the site’s subject-matter expert for receiving, stock control and kitting, and a go-to person for colleagues in engineering, production and procurement.
- Train, coach and support colleagues and temporary or contract staff on warehouse processes and inventory tracking.
- Help build, document and improve the site’s warehouse processes as the team grows.
- Not a people-management role: you will set the standard and lead by example on site.
- On-site role in a warehouse and stores environment, including standing, walking and regular manual handling (lifting up to 23 kg / 50 lb, with equipment available for heavier loads).
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Essential Experience & Skills
- 4+ years of proven hands-on experience in a warehouse, stores or inventory control role, ideally in manufacturing, electronics, robotics, aerospace, automotive or a prototype/R&D build environment.
- Practical, hands-on use of Excel or Google Sheets (formulas, lookups, pivots, simple dashboards) and the confidence to use AI tools to make stock tracking and reporting faster and more accurate.
- Experience of cycle counting and stock reconciliation, including investigating and resolving variances.
- Experience of kitting and material issue to production against BOMs, and the ability to read a BOM and drawings.
- Comfortable using Slack and collaborating digitally with remote teams.
- Able to work safely in a physical warehouse environment, including regular lifting and moving of materials with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Some flexibility in working hours may be needed to support urgent builds and time-critical deliveries.
Qualifications & Site Requirements
- Degree or diploma in supply chain, logistics, business or a related field, or equivalent practical experience; a warehouse or logistics certificate is a plus.
- OSHA 10-hour general industry training is an advantage.
- Awareness of U.S. DOT hazardous materials shipping requirements is an advantage.
- Legally authorised to work in the United States.
Desirable
- Experience in a small, fast-moving or start-up environment where processes are still being built.
- Experience of JIRA or a similar ticketing system, or of an ERP or warehouse management system. Not required: full training on our JIRA-based processes will be given.
- Familiarity with handling lithium batteries and other regulated or hazardous components.
- Exposure to working with 3PL providers, carriers and import/export documentation.
- Lean or 5S training, or an inventory/warehouse qualification such as APICS CPIM or an equivalent.
Behavioral Skills
- Ownership and reliability: you finish what you start and you are accurate every time.
- Methodical, organized and detail-focused, with a strong sense of accuracy and compliance.
- Clear, proactive communication with engineering, production, procurement and the London-based leadership team across time zones.
- Comfortable working independently and sound judgement on when to escalate.
- Flexible and practical in a fast-paced, changing environment, with willingness to support build peaks.
- A problem-solving mindset and a positive, hands-on attitude.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Comprehensive health coverage for US‑based employees, including fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, with virtual care and employee assistance resources.
- Meaningful time off to rest and recharge: 23 days of PTO (accrued), separate sick leave, and paid company holidays.
- 401(k) retirement plan with 4% employer match.
- Competitive equity: stock options with meaningful upside as we scale.
- Free daily catered lunch, snacks, and drinks in‑office.
- Collaboration with top‑tier engineers, researchers, and product experts in AI and robotics.
- Freedom to influence the product and own key initiatives.
For this role in Massachusetts, the expected base salary range is $60K–$80K USD per year; your placement in that range depends on how your experience maps to our internal leveling.
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