Softgoods Product Design Engineer
1X is a Palo Alto-based AI and robotics company developing general-purpose humanoid robots, led by its NEO home robot.
About 1X
1X develops humanoid robots that live and learn alongside people. Its flagship product, NEO, is a home robot designed to autonomously help with household tasks, supported by the company’s embodied-AI systems.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will own the end-to-end design and production of NEO softgoods components, including textiles, foams, and elastomers. You will turn concepts into production-ready parts, build and validate prototypes and fixtures, qualify materials and manufacturing partners, and ensure tactile quality, safety, durability, manufacturability, cost, and yield targets are met at scale.
Requirements
- Have 5–10 years of experience, with exceptional candidates with less experience considered.
- Hold a Bachelor of Science in engineering or a related field, or have equivalent experience.
- Provide a portfolio showcasing professional work, personal projects, and passion projects.
- Demonstrate hands-on expertise with textiles, foams, elastomers, yarns, dyes, knitting, weaving, cut-and-sew, bonding, lamination, and molding.
- Be proficient in 3D CAD modeling, surface design, and FEA.
- Demonstrate design-for-manufacturing expertise for high-volume production.
- Have hands-on experience building, assembling, and prototyping designs.
Responsibilities
- Own the full lifecycle of softgoods components from concept through mass production.
- Deliver soft-touch components that meet defined feel and finish standards with low production defect rates.
- Qualify touch-facing softgoods for safety and durability before launch.
- Own testing and fixtures for component validation.
- Drive design for manufacturability, cost targets, and first-pass yield improvements.
- Qualify materials and manufacturing partners for new softgoods solutions.
- Collaborate with industrial designers, materials scientists, and manufacturing engineers to create buildable specifications.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Generous paid time off, company holidays, and parental leave
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account options
- Commuter benefits for transit and parking
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Employee Assistance Program for mental health, financial, and personal support
- Onsite snacks and catered lunches