Materials and Process Innovation Engineer

1X • San Carlos, CA

14h • Onsite

About The Position

1X is building humanoid robots for home use, aiming to automate chores and give people back their time. This requires solving complex challenges in robotics, AI, and manufacturing simultaneously. The company has been developing these technologies since 2014 and is now focused on shipping its flagship product, NEO, a home robot designed for real-world operation alongside people. The Materials and Process Innovation Engineer role is within the 1X Labs team, which focuses on the science and technology enabling human-level, general-purpose humanoid robots. Materials are a critical component, influencing the performance of artificial skin, compliant structures, sensing surfaces, protective layers, and mechanisms. The team develops materials and fabrication technologies to enhance robotic capabilities and ensure scalable production. This role involves bridging the gap between material innovation and manufacturing reality by developing, optimizing, and scaling fabrication processes for advanced materials like soft materials, polymers, elastomers, composites, textiles, coatings, and multilayer systems. The goal is to ensure these materials perform exceptionally in the lab and can be manufactured consistently, reliably, and economically. The engineer will play a key role in transforming scientific breakthroughs into scalable technologies that improve robot capabilities, durability, and safety.

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.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior