Many Workers Fear Robots Will Replace Them. But an AI Startup is Paying Humans $45 an Hour to Babysit Them.

A robotics startup working to build machines capable of doing human jobs is hiring people to look after those very robots, offering up to $45 an hour for an overnight position that involves keeping the machines running and stepping in when something goes wrong.

Figure AI, a California-based company developing autonomous humanoid robots for factories, warehouses and eventually homes, is recruiting a night-shift coordinator in Santa Clara to supervise its robots and the employees who operate them.

The job posting on Figure's official recruitment website lists an hourly pay range of $40 to $45, with shifts running from 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. The position is initially contract-to-hire, with the possibility of transitioning to full-time employment.

The job involves more than simply watching machines work. The coordinator will be responsible for keeping robots operational, assigning tasks to human operators, troubleshooting technical failures and responding to safety concerns.

When a robot breaks down or encounters a problem, the employee must decide whether operations can continue, need to be adjusted or should be stopped. The role also involves documenting equipment failures, coordinating repairs with engineers and reporting overnight performance to the next shift.

Figure is looking for candidates with at least three years of supervisory experience in manufacturing, laboratory operations or a similar environment. Experience working with robots or troubleshooting mechanical and electromechanical equipment is also required.

The work is physically demanding. Applicants must be able to stand for more than eight hours, bend and move frequently, and handle robotic equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. The five-day workweek includes a mandatory weekend shift.

At the top of the advertised pay range, a 40-hour workweek would translate to approximately $93,600 annually before taxes, although the posting does not guarantee that schedule or annual compensation.

The unusual job opening comes as Figure expands its efforts to move humanoid robots from controlled demonstrations into commercial workplaces.

Founded in 2022, the company reached a $39 billion valuation following a Series C funding round announced in September 2025. It secured more than $1 billion in committed capital, with investors including Nvidia, Intel Capital, Salesforce, Qualcomm Ventures and LG Technology Ventures.

Figure's robots are designed to perform repetitive and physically demanding tasks in industries such as manufacturing, logistics and retail.

The company has already tested its technology on automotive assembly lines. In November 2025, Figure reported that its Figure 02 robots had contributed to the production of more than 30,000 BMW vehicles at the automaker's Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant.

During the 11-month deployment, the robots loaded more than 90,000 sheet-metal parts and accumulated over 1,250 hours of operation, working 10-hour shifts on weekdays.

The company subsequently introduced Figure 03, its next-generation humanoid robot, and demonstrated the machine at BMW's Spartanburg facility in June 2026. The newer model was shown handling automotive parts and moving carts as part of a logistics workflow.

Figure has also signed an agreement with Catalyst Brands, the retail group behind JCPenney, Aéropostale and Brooks Brothers, to introduce humanoid robots into distribution and logistics operations, beginning at a facility in Reno, Nevada.

The company has been increasing production as it expands its robot fleet. In an April 2026 manufacturing update, Figure said it had produced more than 350 third-generation humanoids and increased its manufacturing rate from one robot per day to one per hour.

That expansion also created additional requirements for equipment maintenance, fault detection and operational support. Figure said it had developed systems for diagnosing failures, monitoring robot performance and managing software updates across its fleet.

The company's latest recruitment efforts show the human workforce involved in operating those systems.

Alongside the overnight coordinator, Figure has advertised positions for humanoid robot operators who test new behaviors, monitor performance and support the development of automated tasks.

The night-shift role also requires the successful candidate to train and coach operators, manage staffing schedules and sometimes operate robots directly when additional assistance is needed.

Figure's job posting describes the coordinator as the first person responsible for addressing equipment failures and safety problems during overnight operations, when engineering support is limited.

The company has not disclosed how many robots the new hire would supervise or how many people currently work on its overnight operations team.

The advertised position includes a week of training at company headquarters before the employee begins regular shift duties.