Quality Engineering Technician - Polymer

Quality Engineering Technician- Polymers

Department: Quality & Reliability

Location: San Carlos/ Hayward

About 1X

We're building humanoid robots that work in home - doing the chores, handling the tasks, and giving people their time back. Simple, but it's not.

To do this right, we have to solve robotics, AI, manufacturing - at the same time, at scale, in a form factor that has to be safe enough to live with your family. If you're inspired by this, you'll thrive here. We've been at this since 2014 and we're at the point where the hard problems are behind us and the hard work is in front of us.

NEO is our flagship - a home robot designed to move, learn, and operate in the real world alongside real people. We're not demoing it - we're shipping it. We're excited to meet you, if this excites you.

If you've spent your career working on problems that matter and want to see them actually reach the world - this is that moment. We're scaling, we're hiring with intention, and we need people who want to build something that will genuinely change how humans spend their time - safely creating abundance for all.

About the Team

The Quality & Reliability team spans Quality, Reliability, Compliance, Failure Analysis, and Test & Validation. Together, we own ensuring 1X products are safe, reliable, compliant, and ready for customers — embedding quality systems, reliability engineering, and regulatory compliance throughout the entire product development lifecycle. Our work touches every phase of how NEO gets built and how it performs in the real world, and we hold the bar that lets the rest of the company ship with confidence.

Your Charter

Own quality on the polymer production line — catching issues early through rigorous process and product audits, containing problems before they escape, and leading the Material Review Board process to ensure nonconforming material is properly investigated, dispositioned, and resolved. You feed production data back into the team so we continuously raise the bar on what leaves the floor.

Key Outcomes

• Production line issues contained rapidly, with documented investigation records, clear escalation paths, and corrective actions that prevent recurrence

• MRB process led end-to-end — nonconforming material segregated, investigated, and dispositioned with thorough documentation and cross-functional alignment

• Process audit compliance tracked across all polymer assembly operations, with non-conformances driven to verified closure

• Emerging trends identified through continuous production data analysis before they result in escapes or customer impact

• Product audit data — destructive pull tests, hardness measurements — consistently collected, reported against acceptance criteria, and used to drive measurable quality improvements

Key Competencies

• Polymer and adhesives expertise: deep hands-on knowledge of adhesive dispensing processes, failure modes, and material behavior in a production context

• Root cause investigator: leads structured investigations into production and process issues, drives containment, and gets to permanent corrective action

• Data analyst: pulls insights from production data using Excel, JMP, or Minitab — finds the trend before it becomes an escape

• Quality practitioner: applies PFMEA, Control Plans, and MRB processes as working tools, not checkbox exercises

• Clear communicator: writes investigation reports and dispositions that others can act on, and escalates decisively when issues exceed scope

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years working in a polymer or materials production environment — adhesives, fabrics, fibers, or similar

• Hands-on experience with adhesive dispensing processes and their associated failure modes

• Demonstrated experience leading root cause investigations and containment activities on a production line

• Data analysis proficiency in Excel, JMP, or Minitab

• Familiarity with quality methods including PFMEA and Control Plans

• Associate's degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Manufacturing Technology, or a related field

Preferred Skills

• Experience leading or participating in a formal Material Review Board (MRB) process

• Hands-on experience with mechanical testing: pull testers, Shore hardness gauges, or similar

• Familiarity with a quality management system (QMS) or ISO 9001 environments

• Experience in a high-growth or startup manufacturing environment where processes are actively being developed
  

What does a successful 1X Team Member look like

Team members at 1X who thrive here are builders. They move fast, own their work completely, and treat time like it's the one thing you can't get back - because it is. They say what they mean, finish what they start, and hold themselves to a standard before anyone has to ask. We push each other to be better, and we do it with honesty and respect.

Compensation Range $42/hr - $50/hr

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Generous paid time off, company holidays, and parental leave

• 401(k) plan with company match (100% on the first 3% of contributions, 50% on the next 2%)

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) options

• Commuter benefits (transit and parking)

• Short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health, financial, and personal support

• Onsite snacks and catered lunches

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, justice system impact, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.