Staff Electrical Engineer, Hands | Hardware Engineering

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 we scale from research and development to full-scale manufacturing, we are seeking a Staff Electrical Engineer to join our Hands Team. This role is ideal for an expert engineer who thrives in high-performance, hands-on environments. You will design, prototype, and optimize advanced electrical systems for robotic hands, working at the intersection of dexterity, manufacturability, and embedded intelligence. Your work will be pivotal to delivering some of the most capable robotic hands ever built.

Responsibilities

• Own the full electrical design for robotic hand subsystems, including sensing, actuation, compute, and power distribution

• Architect and implement custom PCBAs with rapid iteration, from concept through production

• Develop robust, space- and power-efficient embedded systems under strict physical and thermal constraints

• Debug complex electromechanical issues using real-world testing and hardware tools

• Optimize for manufacturability, cost, and reliability, enabling smooth transition to production

• Collaborate closely with mechanical, software, and manufacturing teams to ensure full-system integration

• Drive improvements across prototyping infrastructure and validation rigs

Requirements

• Expertise in schematic design and PCB layout for complex, dense embedded systems

• Strong understanding of power electronics, sensing systems, and high-speed digital interfaces

• Proficiency with bring-up and debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and embedded firmware tools

• Experience designing for extreme constraints in space, weight, and power

• Proven track record of shipping hardware from prototype to production

• Familiarity with cross-functional engineering in robotics or similarly integrated systems

• Ability to move fast, own projects end-to-end, and deliver in a high-velocity team environment

Benefits & Compensation

• Salary Range: $160,000 – $190,000

• 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.