Head of Robot Safety & Compliance

About 1X

We’re an AI and robotics company based in Palo Alto, California, on a mission to build a truly abundant society through general‑purpose robots capable of performing any kind of work autonomously.
We believe that to truly understand the world and grow in intelligence, humanoid robots must live and learn alongside us. That’s why we’re focused on developing friendly home robots designed to integrate seamlessly into everyday life.
We’re looking for curious, driven, and passionate people who want to help shape the future of robotics and AI. If this mission excites you, we’d be thrilled to hear from you and explore how you might contribute to our journey.

Role Overview

As Head of Robot Safety & Compliance, you will define and implement the safety strategy for our humanoid robots. You will lead regulatory and certification efforts, develop risk assessment methodologies, and collaborate across engineering disciplines to ensure the robots’ design, hardware, software, and control systems adhere to industry‑leading safety standards. Your work will be instrumental in balancing safety, performance, and usability for global deployment.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement robot safety architecture, including fail‑safe mechanisms and risk mitigation strategies

• Own regulatory certification efforts for global safety standards such as ISO 13849, IEC 61508, ISO 10218, ANSI/RIA, UL, CE, and OSHA

• Lead risk assessments (FMEA, HARA, fault tree analysis) to identify and mitigate hazards in robotic systems

• Work with mechanical, electrical, software, and control teams to integrate safety into design and operation

• Develop and execute safety validation tests, including worst‑case failure scenarios and redundancy checks

• Establish best practices for human‑robot interaction safety, including force‑limiting mechanisms and real‑time monitoring

• Represent the company in industry safety committees and regulatory discussions

• Build internal safety processes, documentation, and training programs

• 8+ years of experience in robotics safety, functional safety engineering, or regulatory compliance

• Deep knowledge of robotics and automation safety standards (ISO 13849, IEC 61508, ISO 10218, etc.)

• Experience conducting safety analysis techniques such as FMEA, HARA, fault tree analysis, and applying risk mitigation strategies

• Strong understanding of safety‑critical hardware and software systems, real‑time systems, and fail‑safe architectures

• Hands‑on experience leading regulatory certification or approval efforts externally

• Ability to drive safety and compliance initiatives in a fast‑paced, startup environment

Benefits & Compensation

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) with company match

• Paid time off and holidays

Equal Opportunity Employer

1X is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.