1. What is a Software Engineer?

As a Software Engineer at Figure AI, you are not simply building web applications or backend services; you are engineering the intelligence and functionality of general-purpose humanoid robots. This role sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, and systems engineering. You are tasked with deploying code that operates in the physical world, meaning your software directly influences how a robot perceives, moves through, and manipulates its environment.

The impact of this position is profound. Figure AI is racing to deploy autonomous humanoids into the workforce to address labor shortages and improve safety. Your code contributes to critical subsystems, whether that is the "Never Fall" safety protocols, robotic integration, vision processing, or the underlying infrastructure that allows the fleet to learn and operate. You will work in a high-velocity environment where software reliability is paramount—a bug here doesn't just crash an app; it could cause physical hardware failure.

Candidates successful in this role are typically driven by the challenge of embodied AI. You will collaborate closely with mechanical engineers, control theorists, and AI researchers to translate complex models into real-time, production-grade software. This is a role for engineers who want to see their code walk, lift, and interact with the real world.

2. Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation for Figure AI requires a shift in mindset from standard tech interviews. While algorithmic competence is necessary, the team prioritizes practical engineering and the ability to ship software in a complex, hardware-constrained environment.

Key Evaluation Criteria:

• Technical Ownership & Depth – You must be able to discuss your past projects with extreme granularity. Interviewers will drill down into why you made specific architectural choices, how you handled trade-offs, and the specific lines of code you owned.
• System Integration & Design – Figure AI evaluates how well you understand the broader system. You need to demonstrate how your software interacts with hardware components, sensors, and other services. Expect to discuss latency, concurrency, and resource constraints.
• Cross-Functional Communication – You will likely interview with people outside of pure software engineering, including operations or hardware specialists. Your ability to explain technical concepts to diverse stakeholders (e.g., explaining warehouse logic to non-engineers) is a critical filter.
• Adaptability and Grit – The environment is fast-paced and can be ambiguous. Interviewers look for signals that you can navigate shifting requirements, handle "startup chaos," and deliver results without hand-holding.

3. Interview Process Overview

The interview process at Figure AI is known for being fast-paced and direct. Unlike large tech companies with rigid, months-long cycles, Figure AI moves quickly—often completing the loop from application to decision in as little as two weeks. However, the process can also be unpredictable; candidates have reported variations ranging from purely conversational screens to intense technical case studies.

Typically, the process begins with a resume screen, which may bypass a traditional recruiter call and go directly to an engineer or hiring manager. If you pass this stage, you will move into a series of technical rounds. A distinctive feature of Figure's process is the potential for a Case Study presentation, which requires significant preparation time. The final stage is an onsite (or virtual onsite) loop involving back-to-back interviews with various team members, including Staff Engineers and potentially cross-functional partners from operations or compliance.

This timeline illustrates a compressed but rigorous schedule. Note that the Case Study phase is a major pivot point; this is where you demonstrate your ability to solve open-ended problems similar to what you would face on the job. Be prepared for a process that prioritizes speed and immediate feedback, but requires you to be flexible with scheduling and format changes.

4. Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Your interviews will focus heavily on your practical experience and your ability to apply engineering principles to novel problems. Based on candidate reports, the following areas are critical for the Software Engineer role.

Project Deep Dive

This is often the most significant part of the interview. Rather than generic coding puzzles, interviewers prefer to dissect a project you have already built. They want to see the depth of your contribution.

Be ready to go over:

• Architectural decisions – Why did you choose this stack? What were the alternatives?
• Technical challenges – What was the hardest bug you squashed? How did you debug a system that involved multiple moving parts?
• Ownership – Be honest about what you did versus what the team did. They will probe until they hit the limit of your knowledge.

Case Study & System Design

For many candidates, Figure AI assigns a take-home or presentation-based case study. This is designed to test your ability to synthesize information and propose a viable solution under time constraints.

Be ready to go over:

• Problem structuring – How do you break down a vague prompt (e.g., "Design a deployment system for a robot fleet") into actionable engineering tasks?
• Trade-offs – Speed vs. accuracy, cost vs. reliability, edge vs. cloud processing.
• Presentation skills – You may present this to a panel. Clarity, confidence, and the ability to defend your design against critique are essential.

Cross-Functional & Operational Fit

Figure AI is a physical product company. You may face questions that seem unrelated to code, such as warehouse logistics, trade compliance, or operational workflows.

Be ready to go over:

• Operational logic – Understanding how software impacts the physical supply chain or robot operations.
• Stakeholder management – How you handle requests from non-technical teams.
• Advanced concepts – Real-time constraints, safety-critical systems, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Pick a recent project and explain the most complex technical hurdle you overcame."
• "How would you design a safety override system for a robot operating in a warehouse?"
• "Explain a technical concept to someone with a background in trade compliance or logistics."

The word cloud above highlights the frequency of Project-based and System-level discussions. You will notice a heavy emphasis on "Projects," "Integration," and "Teams." This confirms that your preparation should focus less on LeetCode grinding and more on articulating your engineering narrative and system design capabilities.

5. Key Responsibilities

As a Software Engineer at Figure AI, your day-to-day work is hands-on and diverse. You are responsible for designing, implementing, and testing software that powers the Figure 01 and subsequent humanoid robots. This involves writing high-performance code (often C++ or Python) that integrates seamlessly with sensors, actuators, and AI models.

You will collaborate extensively with the Robotic Integration and "Never Fall" teams to ensure the robot operates safely and effectively. This means you aren't just pushing code to a server; you are likely running simulations, analyzing telemetry data from robot fleets, and debugging issues that manifest in physical behavior. You will also build the tools and infrastructure that allow other engineers to develop and deploy models faster, bridging the gap between research and real-world application.

6. Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be competitive, you need a strong foundation in software engineering principles, but you also need to demonstrate an aptitude for the physical constraints of robotics.

• Must-have skills:

  • Proficiency in C++ and Python (production quality).
  • Experience with Linux environments and development tools.
  • Strong understanding of distributed systems or embedded systems.
  • Ability to articulate complex technical details to engineers and non-engineers alike.

• Nice-to-have skills:

  • Experience with ROS/ROS2 (Robot Operating System).
  • Background in simulation environments (e.g., MuJoCo, Isaac Gym, Gazebo).
  • Knowledge of control theory, computer vision, or deep learning frameworks (PyTorch/TensorFlow).
  • Previous experience in a hardware-centric startup.

7. Common Interview Questions

The following questions reflect the style and content reported by candidates. Note that Figure AI often avoids standard question banks in favor of conversational, experience-based inquiries.

Project & Experience

• "Introduce yourself and pick a specific project to walk us through in detail."
• "Tell me about a time you had to integrate your software with a hardware component. What went wrong?"
• "Describe a situation where you had to learn a new technology overnight to solve a problem."

Technical & System Design

• "Design a data ingestion pipeline for robot telemetry."
• "How would you ensure a robot stops immediately if a safety sensor is triggered, considering software latency?"
• "We have a warehouse scenario where the robot needs to identify a box. How do you architect the flow from sensor to action?"

Behavioral & Situational

• "How do you handle feedback from a manager who seems overworked or stressed?"
• "Describe a time you disagreed with a technical direction. How did you resolve it?"
• "You are blocked by a hardware delay. What do you do?"

These questions are based on real interview experiences from candidates who interviewed at this company. You can practice answering them interactively on Dataford to better prepare for your interview.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How technical are the interviews? The technical depth varies by round. Initial screens can be surprisingly conversational, focusing on "fit" and project history. However, later rounds, especially the Case Study and Onsite, can be very rigorous, testing your ability to design complex systems and defend your choices.

Q: What is the culture like during the interview? Expect an intense, startup-like atmosphere. Interviewers may appear busy or "overworked," reflecting the company's rapid growth and ambitious goals. Don't interpret this as disinterest; rather, view it as a signal that they value efficiency and autonomy.

Q: How long does the process take? Figure AI moves fast. Candidates often report receiving feedback immediately after interviews or completing the entire process in under two weeks. However, scheduling logistics can sometimes be chaotic.

Q: Will I only talk to engineers? No. Recent candidates have reported interviewing with staff from diverse backgrounds, including warehouse operations and trade compliance. This tests your ability to work in a cross-functional, vertically integrated company.

9. Other General Tips

• Prepare for the "Deep Dive": Do not just list technologies. Be ready to draw architecture diagrams (virtually or on a whiteboard) and explain the "why" behind every decision in your past projects.
• Be Patient with Logistics: The recruiting process can sometimes feel disorganized (e.g., rescheduling, delayed links). Maintain professionalism; this is often a symptom of a hyper-growth startup.
• Know the Product: Familiarize yourself with Figure 01 and the current state of humanoid robotics. Understanding the specific challenges of bipedal locomotion or manipulation will set you apart.
• Show Autonomy: Throughout the interview, emphasize your ability to unblock yourself. Figure AI needs engineers who can take a vague objective and deliver a working solution without constant supervision.

10. Summary & Next Steps

Interviewing for a Software Engineer role at Figure AI is an opportunity to join one of the most ambitious hardware/software projects of this decade. The company is looking for builders—engineers who are not only strong coders but who also possess the grit and adaptability to make intelligent machines work in the real world. The process is fast, direct, and heavily focused on your past engineering achievements and your ability to solve open-ended problems.

To succeed, focus your preparation on understanding your own past projects inside and out. Be ready to present a Case Study that showcases your system design skills, and prepare to communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders. If you thrive in high-energy environments and want your code to have a physical presence, this role is a strong fit for you.

The compensation data above reflects the competitive nature of the role. Keep in mind that for a high-growth startup like Figure AI, equity is often a significant component of the total package. Evaluate the offer not just on base salary, but on your belief in the company's long-term mission and market potential.