Manufacturing Electrical Engineer, Hands

1X
San Carlos, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Geared toward hands-on engineers comfortable with electromechanical manufacturing and cross-functional collaboration, working in a high-precision, high-velocity environment in San Carlos, CA.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with experience in robotic hands and high-complexity electromechanical systems
    — “Experience developing processes for robotic hands, compact actuators, or other high complexity, tight tolerance electromechanical assemblies.”
  • Engineers who have scaled low-volume, high-mix manufacturing to higher volume production
    — “Experience scaling a low volume, high mix process into repeatable higher volume production using lean manufacturing, line balancing, and automation.”
  • Individuals who can own processes from prototype to qualified production
    — “You will own critical processes from prototype through production ramp, including PCBAs, harnesses, sensors, actuators, and integration.”

Things to consider

  • Requires physical presence on the manufacturing floor and hands-on debugging
    — “Hands-on engineer comfortable debugging electrical hardware and developing production methods on the manufacturing floor.”
  • Strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making and statistical process control
    — “Test and data driven, using DOE, SPC, capability, yield, OEE, and test data to validate decisions.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with end-of-line testing and process validation in your resume and interviews
    — “Develop and validate functional and end-of-line test systems, including test coverage, limits, instrumentation, and data capture.”
  • Emphasize your ability to influence product design through DFM and DFA principles
    — “Influence product design through DFM, DFA, and DFT to eliminate manufacturing and test risk early.”
  • Showcase your background in creating repeatable, ergonomic, and mistake-proofed assembly methods
    — “Design and qualify fixtures, tooling, assembly methods, and production stations for repeatable, ergonomic, mistake-proofed manufacturing.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • developed robust manufacturing systems
  • improved production efficiency
  • influenced product design
Typical background
electrical engineeringmanufacturing engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Electrical EngineeringManufacturing ProcessesElectromechanical SystemsProduction MethodsTest SystemsFixturesToolingAssembly MethodsProduction StationsData-driven Problem SolvingDFMDFADFT

Preferred

RoboticsAI

Stack & domain

Electrical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringManufacturing ProcessesElectromechanical SystemsTest SystemsFixturesToolingAssembly MethodsProduction StationsData-driven Problem SolvingRoot Cause AnalysisCommunicationCross-functional Team ManagementLeadershipProblem SolvingTeamworkRoboticsAIManufacturing

About the role

Original posting from 1X via Ashby

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 Hands Manufacturing group transforms visionary engineering into scalable, highly reliable hardware. We are architecting the foundational processes and complex systems for the planet’s most sophisticated humanoid hands and authoring the production playbook as we go.

Our team operates with extreme velocity, a relentless focus on detail, and zero ego. By partnering deeply with cross-functional peers, we dismantle ambiguity to make the impossible a tangible reality.

Your Charter:

Build the manufacturing systems that bring 1X robots to scale.

You will own critical processes from prototype through production, developing robust machining, assembly, inspection, and validation methods that improve quality, throughput, and repeatability.

Many of these problems have not been solved before. You will question convention, test ideas quickly, learn from the floor, and turn what works into dependable production systems. The standard is high, the feedback is physical, and no one is above picking up a tool.

Your work will directly shape the production readiness, hardware quality, and long-term scalability of 1X robotic systems.

Key Outcomes:

  • Own electromechanical manufacturing processes from prototype through production ramp, including PCBAs, harnesses, sensors, actuators, and integration.
  • Develop and validate functional and end-of-line test systems, including test coverage, limits, instrumentation, and data capture.
  • Design and qualify fixtures, tooling, assembly methods, and production stations for repeatable, ergonomic, mistake-proofed manufacturing.
  • Improve first-pass yield, process capability, cycle time, OEE, and cost through data-driven root cause and corrective action.
  • Influence product design through DFM, DFA, and DFT to eliminate manufacturing and test risk early

Key Competencies:

  • Hands-on engineer comfortable debugging electrical hardware and developing production methods on the manufacturing floor.
  • Strong electrical-mechanical fluency across schematics, wiring, CAD, drawings, GD&T, and tolerance analysis.
  • Test and data driven, using DOE, SPC, capability, yield, OEE, and test data to validate decisions.
  • Structured problem solver who drives issues to true root cause and implements durable controls.
  • Strong ownership and communication, influencing cross-functional teams and driving processes from concept through qualified production.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
  • 5+ years with a Bachelor’s or 3+ years with a Master’s degree.
  • Hands-on experience with PCBAs, wire harnesses, mechanical assembly, hardware bring-up, and functional/end-of-line testing.
  • Proficiency with electrical debug tools, CAD/drawings, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and statistical process qualification methods.
  • Demonstrated structured problem solving and effective collaboration across design, quality, test, automation, and production teams.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with PCBA manufacturing processes such as SMT, reflow, conformal coating, potting, and rework.
  • Experience with wire harness manufacturing, including crimping, soldering, overmolding, and continuity or hipot test.
  • Experience developing processes for robotic hands, compact actuators, or other high complexity, tight tolerance electromechanical assemblies.
  • Experience building computer-based test software and test data pipelines using Python, LabVIEW, SQL, or equivalent.
  • Experience scaling a low volume, high mix process into repeatable higher volume production using lean manufacturing, line balancing, and automation.

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.

Compensation Range:

$148,000 - $181,000

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

Source: 1X careers (Ashby)

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