Manufacturing Engineer

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. 

We are looking for a highly capable and hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to develop and optimize production processes for advanced humanoid systems. This role is ideal for someone who can act as a "CEO" of their work center/assembly/platform and who thrives at the intersection of precision engineering, scalable production, and agile development. You’ll play a key part in bringing high-performance actuators, motors, joints, sensors, and structural components from prototype to high-rate production, ensuring the products are robust, cost-effective, and built for reliability in dynamic environments.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Process Development & Optimization

• Develop and refine manufacturing processes for components critical to robotic mobility and control systems—e.g., actuators, drive units, transmission systems, precision components, motor housings, and skeletal structures.

• Oversee end-to-end manufacturing workflows, including fixture design, CAM programming, cutting tool selection, and validation/inspection methods.

• Deploy lights-out machining strategies and advanced automation techniques to enable 24/7 component production with minimal human intervention.

• Continuously improve processes to reduce takt time, increase first-pass yield, and improve reliability of robot hardware.

• Implement and improve the precision in the robot assembly to reduce the variability in sub-systems and significantly improve downstream calibration accuracy.

Design for Manufacturability (DFM) & Change Management

• Collaborate with design engineering to evolve part geometries and materials for scalable, high-precision manufacturing.

• Own the release and implementation of new product designs and revisions into production, ensuring manufacturability at all stages.

• Streamline hardware by reducing part count and eliminating unnecessary complexity in robotic assemblies.

Production Support & Troubleshooting

• Serve as the primary technical interface between design, machining, assembly, and quality for the components you own.

• Solve day-to-day production challenges quickly and decisively—ranging from mechanical tolerance stack-ups to machining tool wear or assembly misalignment.

• Support build technicians and operators on the factory floor and ensure clear, up-to-date work instructions are in place.

Quality Control & Statistical Process Monitoring

• Drive production toward a statistically controlled (SPC) environment with rigorous dimensional and functional checks for each robot-critical part.

• Take ownership of part or part-family quality and lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce defect rates and prevent fleet-level issues.

• Implement scalable end-of-line and in-process testing strategies for robotic components, including torque, thermal, noise, and functional validation.

Factory Layout & Workflow Design

• Design robotic cell-based manufacturing workflows optimized for flexibility and rapid iteration.

• Implement visual controls, real-time status indicators, and lean techniques (e.g., one-piece flow, kanban) to support fast-paced hardware development.

• Help design and scale dedicated test benches and subassembly stations for humanoid joint modules, powertrains, and control subassemblies.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Coordinate across mechanical, electrical, firmware, and systems teams to align on integration requirements, test feedback, and design updates.

• Collaborate with supply chain and vendor teams to scale up key robotic components without sacrificing quality or performance.

• Interface regularly with QA, production, and NPI teams to drive resolution of supplier or in-house manufacturing issues.

Project & NPI Ownership

• Lead introduction of new robotic modules and subassemblies into manufacturing; manage prototypes, build validation units, and production ramp-up.

• Drive cost-reduction, reliability, and manufacturability improvement projects across multiple hardware domains (e.g., lower limbs, arms, torso, sensors).

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, mechatronics, manufacturing engineering, or related field.

• 2+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with emphasis on precision mechanical or electromechanical assemblies.

• Experience with CAM programming, fixture/tooling design, and precision machining of aluminum, steel, titanium, or composites.

• Strong understanding of DFM principles and familiarity with electromechanical system integration.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience in the development and production of robotic actuators, humanoid joints, gearboxes, or motion control systems.

• Proficiency with tolerance stack analysis, GD&T, and high-precision measurement techniques (CMM, laser scanning, etc.).

• Exposure to high-mix, low-volume environments with rapid design iteration.

• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, SPC, and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Strong 3D CAD and PLM system experience; ERP and manufacturing documentation fluency.

• Passion for building reliable machines that move and interact in the real world.
  

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 get to know you and the prospects of having you on board!