# Relling Builds Hybrid Robotic Cells for Specialty Manufacturing in San Francisco **Author:** Zero G Talent **Published:** 2026-11-14 **Category:** engineering **Tags:** yc-hiring, robotics, artificial intelligence, computer vision, software engineering, sales [Read on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/blog/relling-builds-hybrid-robotic-cells-for-specialty-manufacturing-in-san-francisco) --- [Relling](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-companies/relling) is a San Francisco-based robotics research lab founded in 2025 and backed by Y Combinator's S25 batch. The company builds hybrid robotic cells that combine classical motion planning with learned manipulation primitives to automate operations on specialty manufacturing floors. Operating from its factory floor in San Francisco, Relling is scaling hardware-software stacks designed for continuous production environments, with a key focus on serving partners in the defense industrial base. The company is actively recruiting across engineering, operations, marketing, and business development for fully onsite roles. ## Ex-SpaceX Engineering and Serial Startup Leadership Relling was co-founded by CTO [Anya Singh](https://zerogtalent.com/people/anya-singh) and CEO [Jai Relan](https://zerogtalent.com/people/jai-relan). Singh studied at the University of Waterloo and served as a stealth CTO before working on automation and controls at SpaceX. Relan previously co-founded two companies, worked in venture capital, served as CPO at Rollup, and held positions at Clara Labs and AnySignal. Together, the founders direct Relling's push to take robotic policies from recorded human demonstrations to continuous live deployment on manufacturing lines. ## AI and Hardware for Defense and Specialty Manufacturing Relling targets deployments in specialty manufacturing, including defense industrial applications across the Midwest, Northeast, and regional defense clusters. To bridge robotic policies with physical hardware, Relling is recruiting a [Robot Learning Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/robot-learning-engineer-95370) ($120,000 - $170,000 / year) to build and ship hybrid robotic cells that run in production at factory and partner sites. To handle environmental perception, the open [Software Engineer, Perception](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/software-engineer-perception-99958) ($120,000 - $170,000 / year) role builds real-time systems converting sensor data into structured observations of workcells and parts. The engineering team is also hiring a [Software Engineer Intern](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/software-engineer-intern-99957) to work across the full stack—spanning demonstration recording tooling, training infrastructure, data loaders, timing synchronization, and physical cell testing. On the commercial side, Relling is hiring a senior [Partnerships Lead, Specialty Manufacturing](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/partnerships-lead-specialty-manufacturing-95371) ($120,000 - $170,000 / year). Based in San Francisco with travel to industrial hubs, the role focuses on working with operators to scope pilot programs and turn them into multi-cell deployments. The urgency around domestic hardware manufacturing aligns with broader themes discussed at Y Combinator's defense technology event, highlighted in the video [The Startup Industrial Base: Building for the Next 250 — Washington, D.C.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6hVGJ4gepk). Speaking at the event, YC President Gary Tan emphasized that small defense hardware teams hold an inherent speed advantage, noting that they "can learn something on Monday and change what they're building on Tuesday." ## Factory-Floor Operations and Marketing Roles Because Relling runs continuous production testing locally, all open positions require being on-site on the factory floor in San Francisco. The company is filling several support and growth positions that collaborate directly with technical teams: - [Business Operations Intern](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/business-operations-intern-97830) ($20 - $100 / hour): A generalist role working directly with founders on customer operations, vendor coordination, deployment logistics, and internal management. - [Marketing Lead Generation Specialist (Paid & Search)](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/marketing-lead-generation-specialist-paid-search-109217) ($20 - $50 / hour): Owns paid and organic search channels for hardware, structuring campaigns to generate manufacturing leads. - [Growth and Content Lead Intern](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/social-media-intern-100284) ($20 - $50 / hour): Translates complex robotic movements into visual stories, managing short-form video and asset creation across social platforms. ## Open Roles at Relling | Role | Location | Work Mode | Salary | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Software Engineer, Perception](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/software-engineer-perception-99958) | San Francisco, CA, US | Onsite | $120,000 - $170,000 / year | | [Robot Learning Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/robot-learning-engineer-95370) | San Francisco, CA, US | Onsite | $120,000 - $170,000 / year | | [Partnerships Lead, Specialty Manufacturing](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/partnerships-lead-specialty-manufacturing-95371) | San Francisco, CA, US | Onsite | $120,000 - $170,000 / year | | [Software Engineer Intern](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/software-engineer-intern-99957) | San Francisco, CA, US | Onsite | Not listed | | [Marketing Lead Generation Specialist (Paid & Search)](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/marketing-lead-generation-specialist-paid-search-109217) | San Francisco, CA, US | Onsite | $20 - $50 / hour | | [Growth and Content Lead Intern](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/social-media-intern-100284) | San Francisco, CA, US | Onsite | $20 - $50 / hour | | [Business Operations Intern](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-jobs/relling/business-operations-intern-97830) | San Francisco, CA, US | Onsite | $20 - $100 / hour | [See all open roles at Relling](https://zerogtalent.com/robotics-companies/relling) --- *Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*