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Salary: USD 175,000 - 215,000 / annual
1X is building humanoid robots designed to work in homes, handling chores and tasks while prioritizing safety for family environments. The company has been developing this technology since 2014 and is now shipping NEO, its flagship home robot. The Softgoods team creates the textile, elastomer, and foam components that make these robots safe, comfortable, and intuitive to interact with.
As a Softgoods Development Engineer, you will drive the complete product lifecycle for softgoods components—from early concept through full production ramp. This is a hands-on role requiring deep collaboration with industrial designers, mechanical engineers, manufacturing partners, and vendors. You'll build prototypes, design tooling and fixtures, and develop repeatable assembly and fabrication workflows. The role demands equal comfort with CAD design, material science, and hands-on fabrication; you'll iterate rapidly on quality, feel, and manufacturability while surfacing risks early and championing continuous improvement.
Key responsibilities include:
- Transforming concepts into refined, production-ready softgoods products
- Building prototypes and tooling, iterating until quality and repeatability meet standards
- Partnering cross-functionally to resolve complex material and manufacturing challenges
- Developing assembly, bonding, and fabrication workflows that scale across the team
- Leading new technology introduction and rapid problem-solving
- Maintaining focus on craftsmanship and the tactile experience of the final product
This is a fully on-site role in San Carlos, CA. The team believes the best collaborative hardware work happens hands-on with materials and rapid iteration.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Minimum 5 years of experience in softgoods development, materials engineering, or related hardware disciplines
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field, or equivalent professional experience
- Portfolio required, showcasing professional work, personal projects, and passion projects
- Strong CAD and mechanical design skills, moving fluidly from concept to manufacturable prototype
- Solid engineering fundamentals applied with sound judgment in fast-moving, iterative hardware development
- Meaningful hands-on fabrication experience spanning materials, methods, and disciplines
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Experience with textiles, yarns, leathers, elastomers, foams, and other material systems
- Mold design, tooling, and manufacturing fixture development
- Pattern making, sewing, and construction techniques
- CLO3D or similar digital patterning and simulation tools
- Adhesives, bonding, lamination, and process development expertise
