---
title: 'Mechanical Engineer - Actuators at 1X'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-actuators-1x-san-carlos-9s0mqn0wqm43'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-06'
---

# Mechanical Engineer - Actuators at 1X

- **Company:** [1X](https://feeny.ai/companies/1x)
- **Location:** San Carlos, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-07-23
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/1x/fe801c98-3344-47d0-8b8f-3958fc453fc0

## Job description

## ABOUT 1X

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.

## ABOUT THE TEAM

The Actuators team develops the electromechanical systems that enable NEO to move with strength, precision, and reliability. Our work spans mechanical design, electric motors, sensing, power transmission, controls integration, and hardware validation.

We work closely with electrical, controls, firmware, test, and manufacturing teams to rapidly develop actuator concepts, validate performance, and mature designs into reliable systems that can be produced at scale.

## YOUR CHARTER

Design and integrate the mechanical systems that enable high-performance robotic actuation.

You will contribute to actuator development from early concepts and technical viability decisions through detailed design, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing readiness. Your work will include mechanical packaging, tolerance definition, component integration, and design iteration based on hardware test results.

You will also work closely with electric motors and electromagnetic components, ensuring mechanical designs account for critical interfaces such as air gaps, magnets, laminations, sensors, thermal behavior, and assembly constraints.

## KEY OUTCOMES

- Design and release actuator components and assemblies that meet performance, packaging, reliability, and manufacturability requirements
- Deliver accurate CAD models, engineering drawings, BOMs, tolerance definitions, and interface documentation
- Improve actuator performance and durability through rapid prototyping, testing, failure analysis, and design iteration
- Successfully integrate mechanical, electrical, sensing, and electromagnetic components into complete actuator systems
- Support the transition of actuator designs from early prototypes into repeatable, production-ready hardware

## KEY COMPETENCIES

- Strong mechanical design fundamentals with the ability to create practical and manufacturable hardware
- Hands-on engineering mindset with an interest in assembling, testing, troubleshooting, and improving physical systems
- Strong mechanical intuition around tolerances, fits, materials, bearings, shafts, and structural interfaces
- Curiosity about electric motors, electromagnetic systems, and multidisciplinary actuator design
- Strong collaboration and communication skills across mechanical, electrical, controls, test, and manufacturing teams

## MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field
- 2–5 years of experience in mechanical design, product development, or a related engineering role
- Strong proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Onshape, Inventor, or equivalent
- Experience creating production-quality engineering drawings and mechanical documentation
- Strong understanding of tolerances, fits, materials, and mechanical design fundamentals
- Hands-on experience supporting prototype assembly, testing, and hardware iteration
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary engineering environment

## PREFERRED SKILLS

- Experience developing robotic actuators, motors, or other electromechanical systems
- Familiarity with electric motors, magnets, laminations, air gaps, encoders, or electromagnetic components
- Experience with bearings, gears, shafts, transmissions, and structural actuator components
- Exposure to rapid prototyping and iterative hardware development cycles
- Experience supporting hardware through verification testing, failure analysis, and design refinement
- Familiarity with Design for Manufacturability and Design for Assembly principles

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 engineers on the Actuators team combine strong mechanical fundamentals with curiosity across adjacent disciplines. They enjoy moving between CAD, hardware builds, testing, and cross-functional problem-solving. They learn quickly from physical systems and take ownership of improving designs until they perform reliably in the real world.

## COMPENSATION RANGE

$107,700 - $161,500 + Equity

## 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

## EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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.

## About 1X

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: 1X develops general-purpose humanoid robots for home and industrial environments, combining AI and hardware to automate everyday tasks.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B funding stage)
- **Headquarters**: Palo Alto, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2015
- **Founders**: Bernt Øyvind Børnich

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Robotics Engineering / Artificial Intelligence
- **Target customers**: B2C (home consumers via NEO) and B2B/Enterprise (industrial tasks via EVE)
- **Mission**: Build a truly abundant society through general-purpose robots capable of performing any kind of work autonomously, allowing humans to focus on what they love.

## Products & Services
- **NEO**: A friendly home humanoid robot designed to integrate seamlessly into daily life and handle chores. Currently in early access after the NEO Beta (2024) and NEO Gamma (2025) iterations. [1x.tech](https://www.1x.tech/about)
- **EVE**: A wheeled industrial humanoid deployed in factories worldwide for autonomous industrial tasks. [1x.tech](https://www.1x.tech/about)
- **Revo1**: A high-torque-to-weight drive servo motor inspired by human tendon actuation, used in 1X robots. [1x.tech](https://www.1x.tech/about)
- **1X World Model**: A physics-grounded video model that enables NEO to learn autonomously from text or voice commands. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1x-technologies)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of $169M as of mid-2026, with a $100M Series B led by EQT Ventures in January 2024. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1x-technologies)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: EQT Ventures (lead), plus other investors in secondary rounds. Acquired Kind Humanoid in January 2025. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1x-technologies)
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Headcount grew 121.2% YoY to 394 employees. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1x-technologies)
  - Full-scale production of NEO began in Hayward, CA, with capacity to build 10,000 units per year. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1x-technologies)
  - New Palo Alto HQ consolidated teams from Sunnyvale and Moss, Norway. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1x-technologies)
  - Appointed Mohi Khansari as Head of Robot Learning (January 2026) and Vikram Kothari as VP of Operations (August 2025). [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1x-technologies)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Vertical integration**: Owns manufacturing in Hayward (U.S.) and Moss (Norway), controlling the full production stack.
- **Proprietary hardware**: Revo1 servo motor offers world-leading torque-to-weight ratio, enabling flexible, low-gear-ratio robotics.
- **AI-first approach**: The 1X World Model allows robots to learn physical tasks via simulation and self-supervised video prediction, reducing need for manual programming.
- **Early home deployment**: NEO is one of the first humanoid robots entering private homes, giving 1X real-world data and feedback loops.

## Strategic Focus
- Scaling NEO production and expanding early access to more households across the U.S.
- Enhancing AI capabilities through the World Model and reinforcement learning (e.g., Redwood mobility controller).
- Building a robust supply chain and service network for home robots.
- Continuing enterprise deployments of EVE while shifting emphasis to the consumer market.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Fast-paced, mission-driven environment focused on building humanoid robots that coexist with humans. Strong emphasis on AI, hardware, and real-world impact.
- **Work model**: Likely on-site for hardware and AI roles (multiple offices in Palo Alto, San Carlos, Sunnyvale, Hayward, and Moss). Some software roles may offer flexibility.
- **Notable perks**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge robotics and AI, contribute to a product (NEO) that is already entering homes, and be part of a rapidly scaling company with strong funding.
- **Engineering culture**: High concentration of talent from Tesla, Apple, Google, and SpaceX. Active research in biomechanics, reinforcement learning, and simulation. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1x-technologies)
- **Open roles**: 65+ positions listed on the careers page across AI, hardware, software, operations, and manufacturing. [1x.tech](https://www.1x.tech/careers)

## Sources
1. [1x.tech](https://www.1x.tech/about)
2. [1x.tech](https://www.1x.tech/careers)
3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1x-technologies)

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