Embedded Firmware Engineer, Motor Control

Target start date: Immediately. Relocation provided.

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.

As we scale from research and development to full-scale manufacturing, we are looking for a Embedded Firmware Engineer, Motor Control to join our Actuators team. In this role, you will be responsible for our motor control, including design, optimizations, and implementation. Collaborating closely with other hardware- and software-teams, you will play a vital role in everything from early stage designs to to testing and application in mass manufactured components. The ideal candidate will have a background in electrical engineering, with extensive expertise and experience in embedded software design and ideally electrical motors and control theory. We are looking for individuals with hands-on experience, and a proactive "get-things-done" attitude, who excel in both long-term strategic planning and day-to-day execution of practical tasks.

What You’ll Get By Joining Our Team

• You can shape the future of humanoid robots

• You will have the autonomy to improve all aspects of your technical skills

• You’ll join an agile and diverse, global team

Why this job is exciting

Every day is different! You will get to

• Own a core part of our cutting edge actuator system.

• In time, your software will run on thousands of humanoids performing tasks in diverse environments, globally.

• You’ll be working with a 50+ DoF biped, with hands, all driven by motors we design and manufacture in-house and controlled by software modules you heavily contributed to.

Within one month, you will…

• Get acquainted with the company’s motor designs, current control approach, tools, and team; start contributing to small tasks.

• Get to know our humanoid NEO and why the motors and actuators are such a central system for its performance and safety and how the control is such an important part in that chain.

Within three months, you will...

• Take ownership of our motor control software modules; collaborate on software-hardware integration and testing.

• Suggest improvements to development processes and contribute to project planning.

• Contribute to closely related tasks and software modules like sensors.

Within one year, you will…

• Lead the development of significant motor control software components.

• Optimize our motor software for performance and reliability.

Responsibilities:

• Architecture and firmware development for NEO's motors.

• Implement real-time control algorithms, safety mechanisms, and communication protocols (e.g., CAN, LIN, SPI, I2C).

• Develop software for specific motor control requirements and applications.

• Support the rest of the actuators team on evaluation and testing.

• Drive features in the higher level robot software safety layer.

Must-Haves:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field

• 2+ years of experience in embedded software development with a focus on motor control, especially FOC

• Proficiency in embedded software development using C and C++

• Strong understanding of electrical motors, control theory, and their correct application

• Experience with communication protocols like EtherCAT, CAN, SPI, I2C or others

Nice-To-Haves:

• Understanding of electromagnetic design and robotic actuation principles

• Experience in sensors (position, current, temperature, ...) and their implementation into a system

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to troubleshoot and debug complex software and hardware issues

• Experience in PCB design

We seek the world's most talented individuals with a passion for inventing and building a more prosperous future. At 1X you'll get to own real projects and be rewarded for your achievements and output. We hire, recognize and reward based on merit. We believe the best work is done when collaborating and therefore require in-person presence.

Location Policy

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

We're excited to have you on board!