Mechanical Design Engineer, Hands Thermal Systems at 1X (San Carlos, CA)Mechanical Design Engineer, Hands Thermal Systems

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.

The Hardware Engineering team designs and delivers the electromechanical systems that allow NEO to move, manipulate, and interact safely with the world. From structural components and precision mechanisms to complete robotic subsystems, the team owns hardware development from concept through production. Working closely with electrical, controls, firmware, manufacturing, and robotics engineers, you'll help transform ambitious ideas into robust, manufacturable products that operate reliably in real-world environments.

Design and develop the thermal systems that enable NEO’s hands to operate reliably across demanding operating conditions. You will develop active and passive thermal-management solutions for highly integrated electromechanical systems, balancing thermal performance with packaging, power, acoustics, reliability, manufacturability, and cost. You will use first-principles analysis, prototyping and physical testing to understand system behavior, optimize thermal designs, and validate solutions in hardware.

• Design and optimize active and passive thermal-management systems for NEO’s hands, from early concepts through detailed design, prototyping, validation, and production release
• Use first-principles thermal analysis, experimental data, and simulation results to select and size components, evaluate design trade-offs, and optimize system performance
• Design, build, and instrument prototypes and test setups to evaluate thermal concepts and validate performance under representative operating conditions
• Develop thermal architectures and solutions that effectively manage heat across motors, electronics, structures, materials, and the surrounding environment
• Work closely with CFD and simulation engineers to evaluate design concepts and correlate simulation models with physical test data
• Work closely with mechanical, materials, and electrical engineers to integrate thermal solutions within tight packaging, structural, electrical, and manufacturing constraints

• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals with a solid understanding of heat transfer and thermal systems
• Hands-on engineering mindset with experience building, testing, and refining physical prototypes
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound engineering trade-offs
• Excellent collaboration skills across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• High attention to detail with a commitment to delivering reliable, validated engineering solutions

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related engineering discipline
• 2+ years of experience designing highly integrated active and passive thermal-management systems in a product development environment
• Strong understanding of heat transfer fundamentals and experience using first-principles thermal analysis to evaluate design trade-offs and drive engineering decisions
• Experience designing and executing thermal experiments, including test planning, instrumentation, data acquisition, and analysis
• Hands-on experience prototyping, assembling, testing, troubleshooting, and improving mechanical hardware
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software such as Onshape, SolidWorks, Creo, NX, CATIA, or similar
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, materials, manufacturing processes, and highly integrated electromechanical systems
• Experience creating engineering drawings, BOMs, specifications, and engineering change documentation
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment

• Familiarity with robotic hardware such as actuators, gear trains, bearings, sensors, cable routing, or related electromechanical systems
• Experience developing hardware from prototype through design validation and high-volume production
• Knowledge of reliability testing, failure analysis, and root-cause investigations

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. Successful Mechanical Engineers at 1X combine deep technical expertise with a bias toward execution. They enjoy solving difficult multidisciplinary problems, rapidly iterating on hardware, and taking full ownership from initial concepts through production. They understand that exceptional robots are built through rigorous engineering, constant experimentation, and relentless attention to detail.

$175,950 - $253,000 + Equity

• 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

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.