Biomechanics Researcher

1X; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Generous paid time off

401(k) plan with company match

Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts

Commuter benefits

Short-term and long-term disability insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

1X in San Carlos, California is seeking a Biomechanics Researcher to define human-level performance for humanoid robots. You will develop models and specifications that inform the design and development of advanced robotic systems.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD and possesses extensive experience in biomechanics, combined with a solid understanding of robotics and related engineering disciplines. This role offers competitive compensation between $200,000 and $250,000, along with equity and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in biomechanics or related fields.
• Strong background in modeling and quantitative analysis.
• Experience in robotics or mechanical systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop quantitative performance models for humanoid robots.
• Translate biological insights into engineering specifications.
• Conduct experiments to understand biological performance.

Skills

Biomechanics expertise

Robotics knowledge

Experimental design

Mechanical systems understanding

Data analysis skills

Education

PhD in Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field

Tools

CAD software

Python

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

1X Labs exists to provide the science and technology that enables human-level, general-purpose humanoids.

We are rigorous about identifying the gap between current robotic performance and human capability, then developing the technologies required to close it. Our work spans sensing, actuation, materials, control, and intelligence, with the expectation that fundamental discoveries ultimately become real products.

The Biomechanics function sits at the intersection of biology and engineering. We use biological systems not as templates to copy, but as reference systems that reveal what high-performance interaction, movement, sensing, and adaptation actually require.

Your Charter

Define what human-level performance means in quantitative, engineering-relevant terms and translate those insights into specifications that guide the development of humanoid robots.

You will study biological systems to understand how they generate force, absorb energy, sense contact, maintain stability, and adapt to changing environments. From those observations, you'll develop performance models, scaling laws, and engineering targets that influence the design of actuators, sensors, materials, mechanisms, and control systems.

As a Biomechanics Researcher, your work will help ensure that engineering decisions remain grounded in the realities of biological performance rather than arbitrary technical metrics.

Key Outcomes

• Develop quantitative performance models that define human-level capability across locomotion, manipulation, sensing, and physical interaction

• Establish engineering specifications and benchmarks derived from biological systems that directly influence hardware and software development

• Design and execute experiments that reveal the mechanisms underlying biological performance and adaptation

• Identify performance gaps between robotic systems and biological reference systems, providing actionable guidance for closing them

• Enable cross-functional teams to make better design decisions by translating biological insights into practical engineering constraints and opportunities

Key Competencies

• Deep expertise in biomechanics and biological performance analysis

• Ability to translate biological observations into engineering models, specifications, and design requirements

• Strong experimental mindset with experience designing, instrumenting, and analyzing complex physical systems

• Ability to work effectively across multiple disciplines including robotics, controls, materials, sensing, and mechanical systems

• Intellectual rigor combined with the ability to operate effectively in highly ambiguous research environments

Minimum Requirements

• PhD in Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field with 5+ years of experience.

• Demonstrated expertise beyond descriptive biomechanics, with a focus on modeling, quantitative analysis, or engineering applications

• Strong secondary background or hands-on experience in robotics, controls, materials, mechanical systems, or related engineering disciplines

• Proven ability to translate biological insights into actionable engineering specifications or performance targets

• Strong experimental experience, including test design, instrumentation, data collection, and analysis

Preferred Skills

• Experience developing quantitative models of biological motion, force generation, sensing, or adaptation

• Experience working with robotics, electromechanical systems, or advanced hardware platforms

• Familiarity with CAD, simulation environments, and engineering analysis tools

• Strong proficiency in Python or similar tools for modeling, analysis, and scientific computing

Experience studying biological materials, soft tissues, tactile systems, or locomotion dynamics

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, successful researchers are deeply grounded in their domain while remaining capable of influencing adjacent fields. They use evidence to drive decisions, seek fundamental understanding rather than surface-level optimization, and care deeply about whether their insights survive contact with real systems, real products, and real-world constraints.

Compensation Range

$200,000 - $250,000 + 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.