Document NWR-EMP-2026-0417
Confidential · Offer Terms
Issued June 12, 2026
Executive Offer · Employment Agreement

Employment
Agreement.

This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") sets out the complete terms of employment between Northwind Robotics, Inc. and Maya Chen for the role of Senior Software Engineer, and takes effect on the Start Date below.
Northwind Robotics, Inc.
A Delaware corporation
1400 Harbor Steps, Suite 900
Seattle, WA 98101
Referred to throughout as the "Company".
Maya Chen
Senior Software Engineer
Reporting to the VP of Engineering
Engineering · Autonomy Platform
Referred to throughout as the "Employee".
Annual Base Salary
$165,000 /yr
Paid semi-monthly
Start Date
Jun 30, 2026
At-will employment
Equity / Sign-On
$20,000
Option grant, 4-yr vest
Benefits
Full
Health · Dental · 401(k)
Background

The Company designs autonomous mobile robots and the software that runs them, and wishes to employ the Employee to help build that software. The Employee has the skills the Company needs and wishes to accept employment on the terms set out here.

In exchange for the salary, equity, and benefits below — and the Employee's work and promises — the parties agree as follows.

Employment Agreement · Northwind Robotics & M. Chen Page 1 of 5 Initials /
Northwind Robotics — Employment Agreement
Articles 1–3 · Role & Compensation
1

Position & Duties

Article One — The Role
1.1
The Company employs the Employee as Senior Software Engineer, reporting to the VP of Engineering. The Employee will perform the duties normally associated with that role, plus other reasonable duties the Company assigns from time to time.
1.2
This is a full-time, exempt position. The Employee will devote their full working time and best efforts to the Company and will not take outside work that competes with or interferes with their duties without the Company's written consent.
1.3
The Employee's primary work location is the Company's Seattle office, with a hybrid schedule of three days on-site per week. The Company may reasonably adjust this from time to time.
2

Compensation

Article Two — Salary, Equity & Review
2.1
The Company will pay the Employee a base salary of $165,000 per year, paid in equal semi-monthly installments on the Company's regular payroll schedule, less lawful withholdings and deductions.
2.2
Subject to Board approval, the Company will grant the Employee a stock-option award valued at $20,000 as a sign-on, vesting over four years with a one-year cliff, governed by the Company's Equity Incentive Plan and a separate grant notice.
Year-One Compensation PackageValue
Base salary
$6,875.00 × 24 semi-monthly periods
$165,000
Sign-on equity grant
Option award, 4-yr vest / 1-yr cliff
$20,000
Benefits & 401(k) match
Employer-funded, est. annual value
$22,400
Total first-year value
Cash, equity & employer benefits combined
$207,400
3

Reviews & Adjustments

Article Three — Performance
3.1
The Company will review the Employee's performance and compensation at least once per year. Any raise, bonus, or additional equity is at the Company's discretion and, where granted, confirmed in writing.
SEE ALSO → Benefits & time off in Article 4 · Confidentiality & IP in Articles 5–6 · At-will terms in Article 7.
Employment Agreement · Northwind Robotics & M. Chen Page 2 of 5 Initials /
Northwind Robotics — Employment Agreement
Articles 4–5 · Benefits & Confidentiality
4

Benefits & Time Off

Article Four — What the Company Provides
4.1
The Employee is eligible for the Company's standard benefit programs on the same terms as similar employees. The Company may amend or discontinue any plan, but will give reasonable notice of material changes.
Health
Medical + Dental
90% employer-paid premium
Retirement
401(k) Match
Dollar-for-dollar to 4%
Time Off
20 Days PTO
Plus 11 holidays + sick
4.2
The Employee accrues 20 days of paid time off per year, plus 11 company holidays and paid sick leave as required by law. PTO is scheduled with manager approval and in line with Company policy.
4.3
The Company reimburses reasonable, documented business expenses the Employee incurs in performing their duties, under the Company's expense policy.
5

Confidentiality

Article Five — Protecting Company Information
5.1
"Confidential Information" means non-public information the Employee learns through employment — including source code, designs, robotics hardware specs, algorithms, customer lists, pricing, and business plans — whether or not marked confidential.
5.2
The Employee will keep Confidential Information secret, use it only to do their job, and not disclose it to anyone outside the Company. This duty continues after employment ends.
5.3
When employment ends, the Employee will promptly return or securely delete all Company property and Confidential Information, including any copies, and confirm in writing on request.
§
Confidentiality and the IP assignment in Article 6 survive the end of employment and bind the Employee regardless of how or why this Agreement ends.
Employment Agreement · Northwind Robotics & M. Chen Page 3 of 5 Initials /
Northwind Robotics — Employment Agreement
Articles 6–8 · IP, At-Will & General
6

Intellectual Property

Article Six — Who Owns the Work
6.1
The Employee assigns to the Company all rights in any inventions, code, designs, and other work product they create within the scope of employment or using Company resources (the "Work Product"). The Company owns all of it.
6.2
The Employee will sign any documents and give reasonable help the Company needs to record or enforce its rights in the Work Product, at the Company's expense.
6.3
This assignment does not cover inventions the Employee made entirely on their own time, without Company resources, that do not relate to the Company's business — to the extent state law protects them.
7

At-Will Employment & Notice

Article Seven — Ending the Relationship
7.1
Employment is at-will. Either the Company or the Employee may end it at any time, for any lawful reason or no reason, with or without cause. Nothing in this Agreement changes that.
7.2
As a courtesy, the Employee agrees to give at least two weeks' written notice before resigning so the Company can transition their work. The Company may waive or shorten this period.
7.3
On the last day of employment, the Company will pay all wages and accrued, unused PTO earned through that date, as required by law.
8

General Provisions

Article Eight — The Fine Print
8.1
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules.
8.2
This Agreement, with the Equity Incentive Plan and Company policies it references, is the entire agreement between the parties and replaces any earlier offer or understanding.
8.3
If any provision is found unenforceable, the rest stays in effect, and the unenforceable provision is narrowed only as far as needed to make it valid.
SEE ALSO → Notices, counterparts & the full deal recap on the Execution Sheet (Page 5), where this Agreement is signed.
Employment Agreement · Northwind Robotics & M. Chen Page 4 of 5 Initials /
Northwind Robotics — Employment Agreement
Article 9 · Execution
Deal Recap — The Agreed Terms
Company · Northwind Robotics, Inc. (Seattle, WA)
Employer
Employee · Maya Chen — Senior Software Engineer
Reports to VP Eng
Base salary · paid semi-monthly
$165,000 / yr
Sign-on equity · 4-yr vest, 1-yr cliff
$20,000
Start date · at-will employment
June 30, 2026
Benefits · health, dental, 401(k) match, 20 days PTO
Full
9

Notices & Counterparts

Article Nine — Closing Provisions
9.1
Notices under this Agreement must be in writing and delivered by hand, courier, or email to the address each party gives. Notice is effective when received.
9.2
This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, including by electronic signature, each of which is an original and which together form one agreement.
9.3
By signing below, the parties confirm they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Agreement as of the Start Date.
In Witness WhereofThe parties sign and date this Agreement below
For the Company
Daniel Okafor
VP of Engineering · Northwind Robotics, Inc.
Authorized Signature
Printed Name
Date
The Employee
Maya Chen
Senior Software Engineer
Employee Signature
Printed Name
Date
Employment Agreement · Northwind Robotics & M. Chen Page 5 of 5 Executed copy — retain for your records