NPI Engineering Technician

Shift: Day Shift, 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Location: San Carlos / Hayward CA (on-site)

About 1X

We build humanoid robots that work alongside people to solve labor shortages and create abundance. Our NEO humanoid is moving from prototype to scaled production — and the transition requires hands-on builders who think like engineers, move like operators, and debug like owners.

The Role

As an NPI Engineering Technician, you are not just assembling parts — you are accelerating the path from prototype to production.

You are a high-judgment, high-ownership, hands-on contributor who:

•     Feels when a system is "off"

•     Spots tolerance stack issues before they compound

•     Diagnoses electrical gremlins from experience

•     Moves fast without cutting corners

You will work side-by-side with mechanical, electrical, and systems engineers to build, test, iterate, and validate hardware as designs evolve. Your pattern recognition, practical intuition, and bias toward safe experimentation directly shape product quality and build velocity.

This role is ideal for a strong electromechanical builder — someone who may not hold an engineering degree but operates with engineering-level system awareness.

What You’ll Do

•     Execute prototype and pilot builds across mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical assemblies

•     Read and interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, and evolving documentation

•     Perform component-, subassembly-, and system-level validation testing

•     Diagnose build and integration issues using structured troubleshooting and hands-on experimentation

•     Identify tolerance stacks, grounding issues, misalignments, thermal effects, and integration risks early

•     Document anomalies clearly and collaborate on root cause and corrective actions

•     Refine SOPs and work instructions based on real build feedback

•     Self-inspect workmanship and uphold high quality standards before handoff

•     Track material readiness and flag shortages or fit issues proactively

•     Collaborate cross-functionally with design, manufacturing engineering, and operations

•     Safely operate precision hand tools, torque tools, bench equipment, and fixtures

What Makes You Exceptional

•     Strong physical and mechanical intuition - You can sense vibration, misalignment, or pressure irregularities

•     Experience-driven pattern recognition - You've seen failure modes and know how to isolate them

•     Bias toward safe action - You test hypotheses methodically instead of overanalyzing

•     Resourceful under constraints - You fabricate, adapt, and improve tooling when needed

•     Sound risk judgment - You know what's safe, what's marginal, and when to escalate

•     Systems thinker - You understand how mechanical, electrical, and controls interact

•     Clear communicator - You translate build-floor reality into actionable engineering feedback

•     High ownership, low ego - You care more about whether it works than about credit

Must Have

•     3+ years of hands-on experience in mechanical assembly, electromechanical integration, hardware validation, or related field

•     Strong fundamentals in at least one domain:

–    Mechanical precision assembly

–    Electrical wiring / harnessing

–    Electromechanical system integration

•     Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and BOMs

•     Experience with torque tools, calipers, measurement tools, and bench equipment

•     Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-changing NPI environments

•     Quality-first craftsmanship mindset

Nice To Have

•     Experience in robotics, aerospace, automotive, medical devices, or consumer electronics

•     Prior NPI / high-mix low-volume prototype experience

•     Electrical debug experience using multimeters, oscilloscopes, and power supplies

•     Soldering or harness fabrication experience

•     Familiarity with PLM/ERP systems (Arena, SAP, NetSuite)

Benefits & Compensation

• Salary Range: $30 - $50 per hour

• 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.