Open Call – Research Engineer / Scientist
1X · San Carlos, United States · 3mo ago
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
1X Labs exists to provide the science and technology that enables human-level, general-purpose humanoids.
We identify the gap between what today's humanoids can do and what human-level capability actually requires. From there, we pursue fundamental advances in sensing, actuation, materials, control, intelligence, and system architecture—carrying promising ideas all the way from research through product integration.
1X Labs is built for people who have achieved deep expertise in a particular field and are motivated by the challenge of solving problems that require multiple disciplines to advance together. Here, ideas are tested against reality, and research only matters if it ultimately ships.
Your Charter
Bring us the idea, prototype, technology, or insight that you believe can materially advance humanoid performance.
This is not a role tied to a predefined roadmap. Instead, we are looking for exceptional technical individuals who have identified a meaningful capability gap and have a credible path toward closing it. Whether your work originates from research, industry, startups, or personal projects, we want to understand what you have built, what you've learned, and what you would pursue if given the resources to take it all the way.
As part of 1X Labs, you will be expected to transform ambitious technical ideas into evidence, working prototypes, and ultimately technologies that can survive the constraints of real products and real manufacturing.
Key Outcomes
Develop and validate technologies that meaningfully advance humanoid capability toward human-level performance
Demonstrate measurable improvements through rigorous experimentation, benchmarking, and real-world validation
Translate novel research ideas into working systems, prototypes, or platforms that can be evaluated and integrated
Identify and overcome fundamental technical bottlenecks that limit current robotic performance
Create credible paths from early-stage research to scalable product implementation
Key Competencies
Exceptional technical depth in at least one relevant field, combined with the ability to reason across adjacent disciplines
Strong bias toward execution, experimentation, and evidence-based decision making
Demonstrated ability to independently originate, develop, and validate ambitious technical ideas
Comfort operating in highly ambiguous environments with minimal predefined structure
Persistence and intellectual honesty when confronting difficult technical problems
Minimum Requirements
Applicants should demonstrate at least one of the following:
First-author or equivalent high-impact scientific publication in a relevant technical field
Development of a prototype, system, or technology that materially advanced the state of the art
Experience founding or co-founding a technical venture and successfully bringing deep-technology products or technologies into the world
Demonstrated track record of carrying complex technical ideas from concept through implementation and validation
Clear evidence of exceptional technical achievement beyond traditional academic or industry credentials
Preferred Skills
Expertise in robotics, AI, controls, sensing, actuation, materials science, manufacturing, neuroscience, biomechanics, or other fields relevant to humanoid robotics
Experience building and validating physical systems in real-world environments
Experience leading highly technical projects or research efforts
Strong interdisciplinary reasoning across hardware, software, and system-level challenges
Demonstrated ability to translate research into deployable products
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.
Within 1X Labs, the most successful people are those who combine deep expertise with relentless curiosity. They are willing to challenge assumptions, test ideas against reality, and pursue difficult technical paths that others overlook. They care less about defending ideas and more about discovering what is true.
Application Prompt
When applying, tell us:
The performance gap you believe should be closed
The technical foundation you already have (research, prototype, technology, or insight)
Why existing approaches are insufficient
What you would build and test first if constraints were removed
Compensation Range
$250,000 - $300,000 + Equity
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.