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Salary: USD 145,000 - 177,000 / annual
1X is building humanoid robots (NEO) designed to operate safely alongside humans in real-world environments. The Test & Validation team is responsible for developing the methods, infrastructure, and data systems needed to understand how NEO performs in the field, working across Design Engineering and Reliability Engineering to validate new designs, accelerate learning, and prove critical robot systems can perform reliably over time.
In this role, you will lead the Test & Validation Engineering team while remaining hands-on on the most critical robot-level validation challenges. You'll translate engineering objectives into robust test strategies, personally develop complete-robot tests, and establish repeatable methods for task/load characterization, durability, instrumentation, and data collection.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading and developing a high-performing Test & Validation Engineering team, setting priorities and providing technical direction aligned with program needs
- Delivering robust validation strategies and test methods across R&D, design exploration, design validation, and lifetime reliability programs
- Personally leading development of complete-robot validation tests, including task and load characterization, robot-level durability testing, instrumentation, controls, and data acquisition
- Establishing consistent standards for test design, execution, data collection, analysis, tracking, and technical reporting across the team
- Ensuring test results are accurate, repeatable, and actionable for informed engineering decisions
- Owning planning and utilization of critical test equipment and lab assets, including budgeting, procurement, capacity planning, and equipment readiness
- Providing engineering and company leadership with clear visibility into test execution, risks, roadblocks, results, and program readiness
You should be a hands-on technical leader comfortable moving between engineering strategy, detailed test development, and team leadership. The role requires strong depth in test and validation of complex robotic or electromechanical systems, excellent understanding of instrumentation, data acquisition, mechanical actuation, fixtures, controls, and test equipment. You'll need to translate ambiguous engineering questions into practical, repeatable test methods that generate useful data, with strong technical judgment to prioritize testing against rapidly changing needs. You should be an effective people leader who can coach engineers, delegate technical work, and maintain a high execution bar, with clear communication skills for explaining complex technical results and tradeoffs to both engineers and leadership.
**Requirements:**
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience in Test & Validation, Design Validation, Reliability Test, or related engineering role involving complex hardware
- Demonstrated experience leading Test and Validation Engineers through complex projects, including technical guidance, prioritization, and cross-functional execution
- Experience developing and executing tests for robotic systems or complex electromechanical assemblies, including robot-level task/load characterization or durability testing
- Hands-on experience with test equipment and methods including data acquisition, environmental chambers, vibration systems, HALT, mechanical actuation, and motor or drive-unit dynamometers
- Strong experience with test planning, data collection, analysis, tracking, and technical reporting
**Preferred:**
- Experience leading both rapid R&D/design exploration testing and longer-duration reliability or lifetime validation programs
- Experience establishing standardized test processes, templates, data practices, or laboratory workflows across an engineering organization
- Experience developing complete-robot or system-level validation methods
- Experience managing test equipment budgets, procurement, capacity planning, and utilization
- Experience working in robotics, automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, or other complex electromechanical hardware environments
