--- title: 'Senior Electrical Engineer - Actuators and Drives at 1X' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-electrical-engineer-actuators-and-drives-1x-san-carlos-x0f814rzby25' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-08' --- # Senior Electrical Engineer - Actuators and Drives at 1X - **Company:** [1X](https://feeny.ai/companies/1x) - **Location:** San Carlos, CA - **Compensation:** $125k–$253k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-06-17 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-08 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/1x/114faf79-0ab9-4810-86f4-3b41c3b1b15a/application **Skills:** Analog circuit design, Digital circuit design, Embedded electronics, Schematic capture, PCB development, PCB bring-up, Hardware debugging, Hardware validation, Oscilloscopes, Logic analyzers, Power supplies, Laboratory instrumentation, EMI/ESD design practices, Power systems, Sensors, Motor drive systems, Power electronics, Actuator control hardware, Robotic actuators, Electromechanical systems > Design and deliver electrical subsystems for humanoid robots, owning critical electrical systems from architecture through production. Balance performance, safety, reliability, and manufacturability while collaborating with firmware, controls, and mechanical teams. ## 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 Hardware Engineering team develops the electrical systems that power, sense, and control every aspect of NEO. From power distribution and embedded electronics to actuators, motor drives, sensors, and system integration, the team builds the foundation that enables reliable robot performance. We work closely with mechanical, firmware, controls, manufacturing, and test teams to deliver high-performance hardware that can scale from prototype to mass production. Our engineers operate across abstraction layers, combining deep technical expertise with practical product development experience. ## Your Charter Design and deliver the electrical systems that enable humanoid robots to move, sense, and operate reliably in the real world. You will own critical electrical subsystems from architecture through production, balancing performance, safety, reliability, manufacturability, and cost. Working across robotics hardware platforms, you will develop robust electrical designs that integrate seamlessly with firmware, controls, and mechanical systems while supporting rapid product iteration and long-term scalability. Your work will directly impact robot performance, reliability, and manufacturability across the product lifecycle. ## Key Outcomes - Design and release electrical subsystems that meet performance, reliability, safety, and manufacturing requirements - Develop robust electrical architectures spanning power, sensing, control, and embedded electronics - Deliver validated hardware designs from concept through schematic capture, PCB development, bring-up, and production support - Improve product reliability through strong EMI/ESD design practices, validation testing, and root-cause analysis - Partner effectively with firmware, controls, manufacturing, and test teams to resolve complex system-level challenges ## Key Competencies - Strong electrical engineering fundamentals across analog, digital, and embedded electronics design - Ability to balance system-level architecture decisions with detailed hardware implementation - Strong hands-on debugging and validation skills using laboratory instrumentation - Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to independently drive complex technical issues to resolution - Strong communication and collaboration skills across multidisciplinary engineering teams ## Minimum Requirements - Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field - 5+ years of professional electrical engineering experience, with level determined based on experience and scope of ownership - Strong fundamentals in analog and digital circuit design - Experience designing, reviewing, debugging, and validating hardware from schematic through PCB bring-up - Familiarity with power systems, sensors, and embedded electronics - Hands-on experience with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, and other laboratory equipment - Understanding of EMI/ESD considerations and robust hardware design practices - Experience collaborating closely with mechanical, firmware, controls, test, and manufacturing teams ## Preferred Skills - Experience designing motor drive systems, power electronics, and actuator control hardware - Familiarity with robotic actuators, electromechanical systems, and motion control architectures - Understanding of motor technologies, encoder systems, current sensing, and control requirements - Experience with high-power or high-current electronics - Experience supporting products through manufacturing ramp and volume production - Familiarity with safety-critical, fault-tolerant, or high-reliability electronic systems - Knowledge of thermal design considerations and fault management architectures - Basic familiarity with mechanical CAD workflows and hardware integration processes 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 Electrical Engineers at 1X combine deep technical fundamentals with a strong bias toward execution. They are equally comfortable architecting systems, debugging hardware on the bench, and collaborating across disciplines to solve difficult engineering challenges. They understand that exceptional products emerge through rapid iteration, rigorous validation, and relentless attention to detail. ## Compensation Range $165,000 - $225,000 + 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. 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