Lead or Head of Embedded, Firmware/Systems Software Engineer

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 Embedded team owns the robot’s firmware. This team works closely with the hardware team to build reliable and efficient firmware, and integrates with the OS and systems software built by the Core team.

Your Charter:

Lead the Embedded team as a hands-on technical leader and people manager so our 1X hardware operates efficiently and reliably. This leader will raise the bar on architecture, improved workflow, and managing complexity.

Key Outcomes:

• Own the technical and organizational direction of the Embedded team so the firmware running on our hardware is robust, maintainable, and efficient.

• Build strong cross-functional alignment with hardware and systems/OS so critical dependencies are clear and execution stays unblocked.

• Deliver a software foundation that supports reliable robot behavior in production, in the factory, and in the field as fleet size and system complexity increases.

• Coach and grow a highly technical team while writing code for a significant project, setting a high bar for engineering quality, ownership, and technical judgment.

Key Competencies:

• Deep technical credibility in firmware, with the judgment to lead architectural decisions in a hands-on engineering environment.

• Strong systems thinking across hardware, performance-sensitive systems, and integration within embedded devices.

• Proven ability to simplify complex architectures and make practical tradeoffs that improve reliability without slowing the business down.

• Strong player-coach leadership style, with the ability to develop senior engineers, create clarity, and hold a high bar while staying close to the technical work.

• Excellent cross-functional instincts and communication, with a track record of defining & driving roadmaps across multiple technical teams.

Minimum Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience building complex software systems, including significant experience in firmware or systems software running on physical devices at scale.

• 3+ years of experience leading senior engineers and/or technical teams in a player-coach, staff-plus, or engineering leadership capacity.

• Strong experience with embedded Linux, low-level software, hardware interfaces, and systems programming in C++ or similar languages.

• Proven track record owning architecture for complex products where reliability, scalability, and long-term maintainability are critical.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field / equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in robotics, autonomous systems, industrial systems, automotive, or other environments where software must perform reliably on real-world hardware.

• Experience inheriting and scaling an existing team through a period of company growth, increasing product maturity, or organizational change.

• Experience working across on-device systems and supporting infrastructure in factory, cloud, or field-service environments.

• Familiarity with adjacent domains such as data pipelines, developer infrastructure, or security in complex technical organizations.

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:

$200,000 - $350,000 + Equity

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

• 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.