Prototyping Engineer - Robot Hands Team

Since its founding in 2015, 1X has been at the forefront of developing advanced humanoid robots designed for household use. Our mission is to create an abundant supply of labor via safe, intelligent humanoids. 

We strive for excellence in all we do, solving some of the hardest problems in robotics with the world’s most talented individuals. Every part of our robots is designed and produced in-house—from motor coils to AI—reflecting our vertically integrated approach. At 1X, you’ll own real projects, be recognized for your achievements, and rewarded based on merit.

We believe the best work is done when collaborating and therefore require in-person presence in our office locations. 

We are seeking a Staff Prototyping Engineer to join our Robot Hands Team. This role is for a prototyping wizard who thrives on turning napkin sketches into functional, testable hardware, rapidly iterating to bring groundbreaking ideas to life.

You will work across mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines, debugging complex systems and bridging the gap between concept and real-world implementation. Your work will directly accelerate the development of some of the most advanced robotic hands ever built.

Key Responsibilities

• Rapidly turn concepts into working prototypes, translating rough ideas into functional electromechanical systems.

• Debug full-system issues spanning mechanical (ME), electrical (EE), and software (SW) components, identifying and resolving integration challenges.

• Design and fabricate custom mechanical components using CAD, 3D printing, CNC machining, and rapid prototyping techniques.

• Develop firmware for microcontrollers (MCUs) and implement control logic and communication interfaces in Python, C, or similar languages.

• Bring up and debug custom PCBs, ensuring sensors, actuators, and embedded systems function as expected.

• Iterate at lightning speed, testing and refining designs with fast hardware and software modifications.

• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, and software teams to drive product improvements and uncover new opportunities.