Manufacturing Process Engineer, Hands

1X; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Generous paid time off

401(k) with company match

FSA/HSA options

Commuter benefits

Disability and life insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Onsite snacks and catered lunches

Job summary

1X in San Carlos, CA is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to own assembly processes for robotic hands from prototype to production ramp. You will define process parameters, run DOE experiments, and establish control plans to keep quality high build after build.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in manufacturing engineering, strong skills in DOE, SPC, MSA/GR&R, and a track record of reducing variation, scrap, and cost, while collaborating with design and operations to scale low-volume,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechatronics Engineering.
• 5+ years with a Bachelor’s or 3+ years with a Master’s in manufacturing engineering for mechanical or electromechanical products.
• Hands-on experience developing and sustaining complex assembly processes from prototype through production.
• Proficiency with DOE, SPC, MSA/GR&R, process capability, statistical quality tools, and manufacturing data analysis.
• Structured root cause analysis, DFM/DFA/DFT, tolerance analysis, and measurable process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Own assembly process development and sustaining from prototype builds through production ramp.
• Develop and qualify processes, fixtures, and test methods using DOE, MSA/GR&R, and capability studies.
• Improve first-pass yield, process capability, cycle time, OEE, and cost while reducing variation, scrap, and rework.
• Drive defects and process excursions to root cause, implement durable corrective actions, and manage production transfer and process changes.
• Influence product and process design through DFM, DFA, DFT, tolerance analysis, and mistake-proofing.

Skills

Process development

Root cause

Data analysis

Tolerance analysis

DFM

DFA

DFT

DOE

SPC

MSA/GR&R

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechatronics Engineering

Tools

MES

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 Hands Manufacturing group transforms visionary engineering into scalable, highly reliable hardware. We are architecting the foundational processes and complex systems for the planet’s most sophisticated humanoid hands and authoring the production playbook as we go.

Our team operates with extreme velocity, a relentless focus on detail, and zero ego. By partnering deeply with cross-functional peers, we dismantle ambiguity to make the impossible a tangible reality.

Your Charter:

Own the processes that turn 1X robotic hands from prototypes into repeatable, high-yield production.

You will develop, qualify, and sustain the assembly, and test processes behind the planet's most complex robotic hands, defining critical process parameters, proving capability with data, and locking in the controls that keep quality stable build over build.

Many of these processes do not exist yet. You will prototype methods on the floor, run the experiments, find the real root cause when things fail, and convert what works into documented, controlled, transferable production systems. The standard is high, the feedback is physical, and no one is above picking up a tool.

Your work directly determines the yield, cost, and scalability of every hand 1X ship.

Key Outcomes:

• Own assembly process development and sustaining from prototype builds through production ramp.
• Develop and qualify processes, fixtures, and test methods using DOE, MSA/GR&R, and capability studies.
• Improve first-pass yield, process capability, cycle time, OEE, and cost while reducing variation, scrap, and rework.
• Drive defects and process excursions to root cause, implement durable corrective actions, and manage production transfer and process changes.
• Influence product and process design through DFM, DFA, DFT, tolerance analysis, and mistake-proofing.

Key Competencies:

• Hands-on process builder who prototypes and improves manufacturing methods directly on the production floor.
• Data-driven engineer skilled in DOE, SPC, capability, yield, OEE, and reliability analysis.
• Structured problem solver who resolves ambiguous issues quickly and implements lasting controls.
• Strong DFM/DFA/DFT and tolerance-analysis instincts, with the ability to influence design early.
• End-to-end owner and clear communicator who drives processes from concept through qualified production.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechatronics Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years with a Bachelor’s or 3+ years with a Master’s in manufacturing engineering for mechanical or electromechanical products.
• Hands-on experience developing and sustaining complex assembly processes from prototype through production.
• Proficiency with DOE, SPC, MSA/GR&R, process capability, statistical quality tools, and manufacturing data analysis.
• Demonstrated experience with structured root cause analysis, DFM/DFA/DFT, tolerance analysis, and measurable process improvement.

Preferred Skills:

• Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Experience developing processes for robotic hands, compact actuators, or other high complexity, tight tolerance electromechanical assemblies.
• Experience with automated assembly, machine vision, precision dispense, fastening, joining, or end-of-line test.
• Experience with MES or manufacturing traceability systems.
• Experience scaling a low volume, high mix process into repeatable higher volume production using lean manufacturing, line balancing, and automation.

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.

Compensation Range:

$148,000 - $181,000

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.