Battery Test Engineer

1X; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 106,400 - 146,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical coverage

Paid time off

401(k) plan with company match

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

1X is looking for a Battery Test Engineer to design and execute testing programs for battery systems. This role focuses on improving the performance and reliability of battery systems used in humanoid robots.

A successful candidate will have hands-on experience with lithium-ion technologies and strong analytical skills for data interpretation. The position offers a competitive salary and unique benefits including paid time off and medical coverage.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in battery testing or validation.
• Experience with lithium-ion cells and battery cyclers.
• Comfortable in laboratory environments.

Responsibilities

• Generate data driving battery performance and reliability.
• Design battery testing programs for realistic operating conditions.
• Analyze battery degradation mechanisms and performance limitations.

Skills

Strong understanding of lithium-ion battery behavior

Hands-on laboratory experience with battery testing

Strong analytical mindset

Excellent troubleshooting skills

Strong communication skills

Education

BS or MS in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Job description

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 Energy Systems Engineering team develops the battery systems that power NEO throughout its daily operation. From cell characterization and battery management algorithms to pack design and system-level energy optimization, the team is responsible for delivering safe, reliable, and high-performance energy systems for humanoid robotics.

Battery performance directly impacts robot capability, runtime, reliability, and user experience. This team works closely with hardware, firmware, controls, robotics, and fleet operations teams to ensure our battery systems perform safely and predictably under demanding real-world conditions.

Your Charter

Generate the data that drives battery performance, reliability, and safety.

You will design and execute battery testing programs that characterize cells, modules, packs, and complete robotic battery systems under realistic operating conditions. Your work will provide the foundation for battery algorithms, hardware validation, fleet analysis, and long-term reliability improvements.

As a Battery Test Engineer, you will play a critical role in understanding how batteries behave in the real world and ensuring our energy systems meet the demands of humanoid robotics.

Key Outcomes

• Develop and execute battery test campaigns that generate high-quality data for performance, aging, safety, and reliability analysis

• Create robotic duty-cycle test profiles that accurately represent real-world operating conditions, including transient loads, regenerative events, and continuous operation

• Identify battery degradation mechanisms, failure modes, and performance limitations through structured testing and analysis

• Support validation of battery management systems, including SoC, SoH, fault detection, and protection strategies

• Deliver actionable insights and recommendations that improve battery design, algorithms, safety, and field performance

Key Competencies

• Strong understanding of lithium-ion battery behavior, degradation mechanisms, and safety considerations

• Hands-on laboratory experience with battery testing equipment and experimental validation methods

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to extract meaningful insights from large datasets

• Excellent troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills

• Strong communication and documentation skills that support cross-functional engineering collaboration

Minimum Requirements

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Energy Systems, or a related field

• 2+ years of experience in battery testing, validation, reliability engineering, or a related field

• Hands-on experience working with lithium-ion cells, modules, or battery packs

• Experience operating battery cyclers, environmental chambers, and laboratory test equipment

• Experience analyzing test data using Python, MATLAB, or similar technical computing tools

• Comfortable working in laboratory environments and following rigorous safety procedures

Preferred Skills

• Experience testing batteries for robotics, automotive, aerospace, industrial equipment, or other high-reliability systems

• Familiarity with battery management systems (BMS), SoC/SoH estimation, and battery algorithms

• Experience developing automated test systems and scripting test workflows

• Familiarity with battery safety and certification standards such as UN38.3, IEC 62133, UL, or ISO 26262

• Experience with environmental, thermal, vibration, abuse, or durability testing

• Experience analyzing field data and supporting fleet-level reliability investigations

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.

Successful Battery Test Engineers at 1X are deeply curious about how systems behave in the real world. They combine rigorous experimental methods with practical engineering judgment, moving quickly from questions to data to decisions. They care about safety, reliability, and creating the insights that allow better products to be built.

Compensation Range

$106,400 - $146,300 + 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.