Mechanical Engineer – Foot Sensing

About 1X

We’re an AI and robotics company based in Palo Alto, California, on a mission to build a truly abundant society through general-purpose robots capable of performing any kind of work autonomously.

We believe that to truly understand the world and grow in intelligence, humanoid robots must live and learn alongside us. That’s why we’re focused on developing friendly home robots designed to integrate seamlessly into everyday life.

We’re looking for curious, driven, and passionate people who want to help shape the future of robotics and AI. If this mission excites you, we’d be thrilled to hear from you and explore how you might contribute to our journey.

Role Overview

As a Mechanical Engineer – Foot Sensing, you will push the boundaries of force and tactile sensing in humanoid robotics by designing the next generation of robotic feet. You’ll lead the mechanical design and integration of force-sensing systems that operate at the edge of performance, reliability, and manufacturability—ensuring robust transduction across real-world environments and long lifecycles.

Responsibilities

• Build a strong working understanding of common force-sensing approaches (resistive, strain-gauge, capacitive, inductive, Hall, optical, etc.) and package and implement them for reliable transduction.

• Translate mechanical design choices into sensor performance outcomes, including dynamic range, resolution, crosstalk, robustness, spatial/temporal response, and long-term stability.

• Partner closely with electrical, materials, structures, AI, software, soft goods, and industrial design teams to define mechanical stack-ups and integration details (e.g., foot stack-up, interfaces, sealing, assembly, and communications).

• Characterize, tune, and validate sensor sensitivity across environments and use cases; document limitations, drift mechanisms, and common failure modes.

• Design, execute, and analyze reliability and lifecycle test plans (e.g., fatigue, wear, environmental exposure, ingress, abuse) to validate sensor and system performance over time and inform design improvements.

• Design sensor and housing features for precision, repeatability, durability, and manufacturability from early prototypes through production builds.

• Understand contact mechanics and load paths through interfaces; use analysis and simulation when helpful to guide design decisions and de-risk unknowns.

• Select materials and finishes that meet performance, reliability, and production constraints from proof-of-concept through vendor handoff.

• Rapidly prototype and iterate—build parts, fixtures, and jigs, and develop practical test methods using hands-on fabrication (machining, casting, etc.) to validate designs.