Software Engineer, Operating System

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 Senior Robotics Software Engineer.  In this role, you’ll collaborate with teams working across software, hardware, firmware, AI, and production on a cutting edge humanoid robot. As part of the real time software team, your software will eventually run on thousands of robots worldwide. You’ll focus on real-time C++ development, efficient state estimation, and creating tools for system identification, hardware bring-up, and health monitoring. Candidates should have 3+ years in robotics, strong C++ expertise, Linux experience, and a passion for hands-on robotics.

Why this job is exciting

• You'll be on a team with a large set of responsibilities, requiring interaction with hardware, firmware, AI, platforms and production teams, all working towards building the world’s safest and most capable humanoid robot.

• The controls team is the first user of the hardware so you will play a key role in hardware design and sensor evaluation.

• In time, your software will run on 1000's 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. If this doesn’t excite you then 🤷

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve our Yocto-based Linux distribution across multiple embedded platforms.

• Support the wider team by building tools, abstractions, and docs that make the OS easier to work with.

• Add and maintain features in the OS layer — from kernel patches to system services.

• Work closely with hardware and software teams to bring up new boards and peripherals.

• Debug and fix issues across bootloaders, device trees, kernel, and userspace.

• Ensure our OS images are stable, reproducible, and ready for development and production use.

• Deep experience with Yocto and maintaining custom layers and recipes.

• Strong understanding of Linux system architecture, including kernel and init systems.

• Comfortable working with board bring-up, device trees, and low-level debugging.

• Track record of supporting embedded platforms in production environments.

• Able to manage complexity across BSPs, build artifacts, and deployment flows.

It will be nice if you had

• Familiar with Jetson, Qualcomm, or similar SoCs in Yocto-based setups.

• Experience with OTA updates, secure boot, or factory provisioning.

• Comfortable extending and customizing bootloaders and initramfs.

• Knowledge of real-time patches, thermal tuning, or power management.

• Experience building tooling around Yocto to support teams or improve workflows

Location Policy

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

Not sure if this is you?

If you’re excited about 1X and this role, but not sure if you qualify, apply anyway! You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

1X is an inclusive and equal-opportunity employer that values diversity. We consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected class. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please don't hesitate to let us know during the interview process. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.

We're excited to get to know you and the prospects of having you on board!