On April 2, a recruitment announcement by UBTECH Robotics quickly gained attention in the market.
The company, known as the "first humanoid robot stock," is seeking a Chief Scientist in Embodied Intelligence globally, offering a striking compensation package: an annual salary starting at 15 million yuan, with a potential maximum of 124 million yuan.
In the current humanoid robotics sector, this is not just an ordinary job posting but rather a bold statement by a leading company about its intent to compete for dominance in next-generation technology.
The responsibilities outlined for the role are substantial. The position involves defining the company's technological roadmap in humanoid robotics and embodied intelligence, leading research breakthroughs in core areas such as vision-language-action models, robotic foundation models, and manipulation and dexterous skill learning. Additionally, the role requires driving the transition of these technologies from the lab to real-world applications, accelerating deployment across diverse scenarios including intelligent manufacturing, commercial services, and home companionship for humanoid robots. It is less about hiring a scientist and more about finding an individual who can shape the company's technological narrative for its next phase.
The timing of this recruitment is particularly noteworthy. Just prior to the announcement, UBTECH had released its impressive 2025 financial results.
According to the financial report, the company's total annual revenue reached 2.001 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 53.3%. Revenue from full-size embodied intelligent humanoid robots amounted to 820.6 million yuan, accounting for 41.0% of total revenue and establishing itself as the company's largest revenue source. Meanwhile, annual R&D investment exceeded 500 million yuan, representing 25.4% of revenue, and cash and cash equivalents stood at 4.92 billion yuan.
Consequently, the "astronomical salary" of 124 million yuan carries significant impact. Based on the company's 2025 revenue, the maximum compensation for this role equates to approximately 6.2% of annual revenue. Such a proportion is substantial enough to spark discussion within any technology company.
UBTECH clearly understands that compensation at this level is not merely about recruitment; it is also a signal to the external market. As competition in humanoid robotics shifts from product demonstration to contests over models, algorithms, and real-world application capabilities, the most valuable resource is no longer just equipment and production lines, but the individuals capable of charting the technological course.
Furthermore, a horizontal comparison reveals a stark contrast. Public data shows that Wang Xingxing, Founder, CEO, and CTO of Unitree Robotics, received an annual salary of 2.4952 million yuan in 2024. In comparison, the starting salary of 15 million yuan for UBTECH's Chief Scientist role is about six times that figure, while the upper limit of 124 million yuan approaches fifty times.
The stark numerical difference between the compensation for a founder and core technical leader at one company and a Chief Scientist position still being recruited for adds another layer of market speculation to this "talent war." It suggests that in the humanoid robotics arena, what is being pushed to the forefront of the competition is not just companies and products, but also the valuation of human talent itself.
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