Materials and Process Innovation Engineer

1X; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 243,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical coverage

401(k) plan with company match

Generous paid time off

Job summary

1X, located in San Carlos, CA, is seeking a Materials and Process Engineer to develop scalable manufacturing processes for advanced materials used in humanoid robots. The successful candidate will ensure novel materials achieve high performance and can be manufactured consistently and economically.

The role demands expertise in materials processing, a strong experimental mindset, and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams. A competitive compensation range of $142,000 - $243,100 plus equity is offered, along with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of industry or postdoctoral experience focused on materials processing.
• Hands-on experience with materials such as elastomers and composites.
• Experience with fabrication techniques including molding and thermoforming.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize fabrication processes for soft materials.
• Transition material technologies from lab concepts to production.
• Improve consistency and throughput in manufacturing processes.

Skills

Materials processing and manufacturing science

Experimental mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

First-principles problem solving

Education

MSc or PhD in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Polymer processing techniques

3D printing

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.

Materials are a foundational technology for humanoid robotics. The performance of artificial skin, compliant structures, sensing surfaces, protective layers, and advanced mechanisms is often determined as much by material systems and manufacturing processes as by mechanical design. Our team develops the materials and fabrication technologies that enable new robotic capabilities while ensuring they can be produced reliably at scale.

Working closely with chemists, materials scientists, mechanical engineers, designers, and manufacturing teams, we transform promising material innovations into robust production-ready technologies.

Your Charter

Bridge the gap between material innovation and manufacturing reality.

You will develop, optimize, and scale fabrication processes for advanced soft materials, polymers, elastomers, composites, textiles, coatings, and multilayer systems that enable next-generation humanoid robots. Your work will focus on ensuring that novel material systems not only achieve exceptional performance in the lab, but can also be manufactured consistently, reliably, and economically in production environments.

As a Materials and Process Engineer, you'll play a critical role in transforming scientific breakthroughs into scalable technologies that directly impact the capabilities, durability, and safety of our robots.

Key Outcomes

• Develop robust, scalable manufacturing processes for advanced material systems used throughout humanoid robotic platforms
• Successfully transition material technologies from laboratory concepts to production-ready manufacturing workflows
• Improve process consistency, yield, throughput, and product quality through data-driven optimization and validation
• Establish clear relationships between material composition, processing conditions, microstructure, and functional performance
• Identify and implement manufacturing technologies that enable scalable production of next-generation soft and functional materials

Key Competencies

• Deep understanding of materials processing and manufacturing science
• Strong experimental mindset with the ability to identify process sensitivities and optimize complex systems
• Ability to connect material behavior, fabrication methods, and product performance
• Strong cross‑functional collaboration skills across research, engineering, design, and manufacturing teams
• First‑principles problem solving combined with a bias toward practical execution

Minimum Requirements

• MSc or PhD in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field
• 2+ years of industry or postdoctoral experience focused on materials processing, fabrication, or manufacturing technologies
• Hands‑on experience working with polymers, elastomers, composites, textiles, coatings, or multilayer material systems
• Experience with fabrication techniques such as casting, coating, lamination, calendaring, embossing, fiber processing, molding, or thermoforming
• Strong understanding of material characterization, process validation, and manufacturing scale‑up

Preferred Skills

• Experience with advanced manufacturing techniques including additive manufacturing, soft‑material 3D printing, photolithography, or microfabrication
• Experience developing production processes for soft robotics, wearable devices, sensors, or advanced material systems
• Familiarity with roll‑to‑roll manufacturing, precision coating systems, curing technologies, or continuous processing methods
• Experience correlating material microstructure and processing conditions to mechanical, tactile, or functional performance
• Experience supporting technology transfer from R&D environments into manufacturing operations

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 engineers combine scientific rigor with practical execution. They understand that breakthrough technologies only matter when they can survive contact with real products, real manufacturing constraints, and real‑world use. They are comfortable navigating ambiguity, developing new processes from first principles, and relentlessly improving systems through experimentation and evidence.

Compensation Range

$142,000 - $243,100 + 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.