Chemical Engineer, Polymer Coatings

1X; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 248,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) plan

Equity

Job summary

1X is building humanoid home robots that can help with chores and daily tasks, shipped to families at scale. We’re focused on safe, durable technology and real-world impact, with a strong emphasis on materials science and rapid iteration.

As a Senior Chemical Engineer on the Materials Science team, you will develop advanced polymer coating materials for load-bearing composites, design experiments, and connect chemistry to performance in production-ready robotic systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Science, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of experience developing advanced polymer coating materials.
• Strong experience with material characterization techniques including DMA, DSC, TGA, FTIR, rheology, and mechanical testing.
• Experience with polymer synthesis, formulation chemistry, polyurethane or other polymer chemistries for coating.
• Experience designing statistically rigorous experiments (DOE) and analyzing experimental data to optimize material performance.
• Excellent laboratory skills with strong attention to chemical safety, documentation, and experimental rigor.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced research and product development environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop the advanced coating materials that define the next generation of humanoid robotics.
• Lead polymer chemistry-driven R&D focused on novel polymer coating materials for load-bearing composites.
• Design experiments, characterize materials, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate materials into production-ready robotic systems.
• Connect coating chemistry and polymer properties to performance, including adhesion, friction, abrasion, heat generation, and fatigue.
• Shape the mechanical performance, durability, safety, and manufacturability of future 1X robots.

Skills

Polymer chemistry

Material characterization

Experiment design

Polymer synthesis

DOE

Education

Chemical Engineering

Materials Science

Polymer Chemistry

Polymer Science

Tools

DMA

DSC

TGA

FTIR

Rheology

Mechanical testing

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

We work at the intersection of materials science, chemistry, hardware engineering, and manufacturing to invent the foundational technologies that make our robots lighter, stronger, safer, and more capable.

The Materials Science team researches and develops advanced polymers, elastomers, structural adhesives, coatings, and functional materials that directly influence the robot's durability, tactile performance, energy efficiency, and manufacturability. Our work moves rapidly from laboratory research into real robotic systems, partnering closely with mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and systems engineers.

Your Charter

Develop the advanced coating materials that define the next generation of humanoid robotics.

You will lead a polymer chemistry-driven research and development efforts focused on novel polymer coating materials for load-bearing composites applications. You'll design experiments, characterize materials,, and collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to integrate new materials into production-ready robotic systems. You will connect coating chemistry and polymer fundamental properties to materials performance, including adhesion, friction, abrasion, heat generation, flexibility, fatigue, and others.

Your work will directly shape the mechanical performance, durability, safety, and manufacturability of future 1X robots.

Key Outcomes

• Develop novel polymer coating materials for load-bearing materials and composites
• Characterize coating and composite material performance using advanced chemical, thermal, and mechanical analysis techniques, including tensile, abrasion, adhesion, flex-fatigue, DMA, DSC, TGA, FTIR, and optical microscopy testing
• Build a clear structure–property–process–performance model linking coating polymer chemistry, physical properties, and application parameters to performance in the defined use cases
• Investigate coating and composite failures and implement chemistry-driven solutions that improve materials performance Establish laboratory procedures, testing methodologies, and documentation that support manufacturing readiness and intellectual property development

Key Competencies

• Strong understanding of polymer chemistry, formulation science, and advanced polymer coating materials
• Hands-on laboratory expertise with polymer synthesis, material characterization, and experimental design
• Practical knowledge of coatings, polymer processing, surface preparation, adhesion, and formulation variables
• Strong analytical mindset with experience using data to optimize formulations and manufacturing processes
• Excellent collaboration across chemistry, materials science, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and systems engineering
• Ownership mindset with the ability to independently drive research from concept through production implementation

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Science, or a closely related engineering discipline
• Minimum 3 years of experience developing advanced polymer coating materialsStrong experience with material characterization techniques including DMA, DSC, TGA, FTIR, rheology, and mechanical testing
• Experience with polymer synthesis, formulation chemistry, polyurethane or other polymer chemistries for coating
• Experience designing statistically rigorous experiments (DOE) and analyzing experimental data to optimize material performanceExcellent laboratory skills with strong attention to chemical safety, documentation, and experimental rigor
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced research and product development environment

Preferred Skills

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Polymer Engineering, or a closely related discipline; alternatively, a bachelor’s or master’s degree with 5 years of industry experience developing polymer coatings or related material systems
• Great understanding of the polymer chemistry and formulation principles of commercial coating systems, including one or more of the following: polyurethane, acrylic, silicone, fluoropolymer, latex-based, or hybrid formulations
• Good understanding of polymer physics related to coatings, including glass transition, crystallinity, modulus, viscoelasticity, damping, toughness, creep, stress relaxation, fatigue, and thermal or environmental aging
• Experience scaling laboratory formulations into pilot or high-volume manufacturing
• Experience collaborating with external suppliers, raw material vendors, or manufacturing partners
• Knowledge of intellectual property development and technical documentation supporting patent filings

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 Chemical Engineers at 1X combine scientific rigor with an engineering mindset. They enjoy experimenting with new materials, solving difficult interdisciplinary challenges, and translating laboratory discoveries into scalable technologies that directly improve robot performance. They are equally comfortable designing experiments, analyzing complex datasets, troubleshooting manufacturing challenges, and collaborating with engineers across multiple disciplines to bring breakthrough materials into production.

Compensation Range

$200,000 - $248,000 salary based on experience, plus 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.