Manufacturing Engineer, Hands - Manufacturing & Production Location: San Carlos, CA (on-site)As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer owning the Hands production area at 1X, you will take precision mechanical assemblies, electromechanical actuators, sensitive electronics, and final precision electromechanical builds from prototype through volume production. You'll design, optimize, and scale the processes that make our hands precise, repeatable, and reliable - and you'll be the technical anchor for the Hands ME function as the team grows. This is a hands-on role with direct impact on the quality and scalability of our robotic systems.
You Will- Own end-to-end manufacturing processes across the full Hands area, including precision mechanical assembly, fine motion mechanisms, electromechanical actuator integration, electronics assembly and test with appropriate ESD and handling controls, and final assembly of precision electromechanical builds
- Design, build, and validate fixtures, tooling, and end-of-line test stations that drive repeatability across operators and shifts
- Develop and maintain work instructions, standard work, and operator training materials engineered for replication - so processes hold up as the line scales in headcount and operating hours
- Drive process improvements that move first-pass yield, cycle time, and reliability for Hands assemblies, with clear ownership of part-family quality metrics
- Lead NPI for Hands components and subassemblies: partner with design engineering on DFM/DFA, run prototype and validation builds, and manage the ramp from EVT through volume production
- Manage ECOs and design revisions into production with attention to scalability, consistency, and shift-over-shift continuity
- Specify and design precision fixtures and the limited machined components Hands requires; collaborate with supply chain and external machining partners where needed
- Implement SPC and in-process quality monitoring; troubleshoot tolerance stack-ups, mechanism variability, electrical and electromechanical integration issues, and final assembly variance
- Serve as the technical liaison between design, quality, NPI, supply chain, and the Hands production floor - partnering closely with Production Supervisors, S4 Leads, and supporting technicians without absorbing floor-level execution
- Mentor junior manufacturing engineers and technicians; set the technical bar for the Hands ME function and model the standards we expect across the team
- Design Hands workstation layouts, material flow, and subassembly sequencing to support throughput, ergonomics, and operator flexibility
Must Have
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field
- Minimum 5 years of manufacturing engineering experience, with a strong record in precision mechanical or electromechanical assemblies
- Demonstrated experience designing fixtures, tooling, and test stations for repeatable assembly processes
- Experience integrating electromechanical actuators and sensitive electronics into higher-level precision assemblies, including ESD handling, in-process electrical test, and end-of-line functional test
- Strong DFM/DFA background, including experience driving design changes back into engineering to improve manufacturability
- Proficiency with GD&T, tolerance stack analysis, and standard inspection/measurement methods (CMM, optical, gauging)
- Experience leading NPI through ramp - from prototype builds to stable volume production
- Working knowledge of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured continuous-improvement methods
- Proficiency with CAD, PLM, and ERP/MES systems, and a high standard for manufacturing documentation
- Strong cross-functional collaboration with design engineering, quality, NPI, supply chain, and production
- Clear, direct written and verbal communication; able to set technical direction and mentor others
Nice to Have- Experience with fine motion mechanisms, miniature mechanical systems, or other compact precision assemblies
- Experience with humanoid robotics, prosthetics, surgical robotics, or other dexterous end-effector systems
- Familiarity with CAM programming and precision machining for fixture and prototype work
- Exposure to high-mix, low-volume environments with frequent design iteration
- Experience with Odoo or comparable ERP/MES platforms
- Experience scaling a production area across multiple shifts
Benefits & Compensation- Salary Range: $105,000 - $220,000
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and holidays
