Quality Engineering Manager

About 1X

We’re building humanoid robots that work in any space humans exist with the mission to create an abundance of labor. Simple, but it’s not.

To do this right, we have to solve robotics, AI, software, hardware, manufacturing and operations at the same time, at scale, in a form factor that has to be safe. 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 general purpose 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 Quality Engineering team enables 1X to scale complex humanoid robot hardware with speed, confidence, and strong manufacturing discipline. We partner across Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Software, and Operations to build quality into the product and production system from the beginning.

As we scale NEO, the team owns quality across new product introduction, production, incoming inspection, MRB, and quality systems. Our goal is to solve quality problems at the source while building practical systems that improve product reliability without slowing engineering or production.

Your Charter

Build and lead a high-performing Quality Engineering organization that establishes quality from product design through production. You will own quality planning, manufacturing controls, production quality, incoming inspection, MRB, and quality system development while driving technical problem-solving across critical robot systems.

Your charter is to translate design intent into robust manufacturing and inspection controls, resolve quality issues at their source, and build a scalable quality organization that supports 1X’s path to production.

Key Outcomes

• Build and lead the Quality Engineering organization, including Quality Engineers and the Quality Technician Supervisor, with clear ownership across NPI, production quality, incoming inspection, MRB, and quality systems.

• Establish quality planning for new products by translating design requirements into measurable manufacturing controls, inspection strategies, control plans, and acceptance criteria.

• Lead PFMEA and control plan development with Design and Manufacturing Engineering to identify critical risks and establish effective prevention, detection, and reaction controls.

• Drive timely resolution of significant production and incoming quality issues through containment, structured root cause analysis, corrective action, and verification of durable fixes.

• Develop and improve practical Quality Management Systems and MRB processes that establish traceability, disciplined decision-making, and useful quality data without unnecessary bureaucracy.

• Partner with Design, Manufacturing, Software, Supply Chain, and Operations to improve product and process quality across motors, batteries, electronics, structural assemblies, and other critical robot systems.

• Use inspection results, metrology, defect trends, and production feedback to prioritize systemic improvements, communicate quality performance to leadership, and raise the quality bar as production scales.

Key Competencies

• Technical and hands-on quality engineering leader who can build an organization while remaining close to complex manufacturing and product quality problems.

• Strong expertise in NPI quality planning, PFMEA, control plans, inspection strategies, and manufacturing process controls.

• Proven ability to lead structured problem-solving, containment, root cause analysis, and corrective action across cross-functional engineering and production teams.

• Strong understanding of electromechanical hardware, including motors, batteries, electronics, and structural components, and the quality controls used to manufacture and inspect them.

• First-principles approach to building quality systems that are practical, scalable, and aligned with engineering and production needs.

• Effective cross-functional leader who can influence Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Software, Operations, and senior leadership.

• Strong operational judgment, ownership, and ability to prioritize quality risks in a fast-moving production environment.

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in a Quality Engineering management role within a complex hardware, electromechanical, automotive, aerospace, robotics, or similarly demanding manufacturing environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Materials, or a related engineering discipline.

• Demonstrated experience leading Quality Engineers and technical quality teams through new product introduction and production ramp.

• Strong technical experience with manufacturing quality controls for complex electromechanical hardware, including inspection, metrology, and process validation.

• Proven experience developing and implementing control plans, PFMEA, inspection strategies, and corrective action processes.

• Deep experience with structured problem-solving, root cause analysis, and building practical quality systems.

• Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to work directly with engineering, supply chain, operations, and senior leadership.

Preferred Skills

• Experience scaling quality engineering organizations and systems through rapid production growth or high-rate NPI.

• Experience in robotics, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, or other vertically integrated electromechanical products.

• Experience developing or improving MRB, incoming inspection, metrology, and production quality operating systems.

• Familiarity with statistical quality methods, process capability, measurement system analysis, and data-driven quality reporting.

• Experience working across motors, batteries, electronics, structural assemblies, and other complex hardware systems.

• Experience building quality systems from first principles in a startup or rapidly scaling manufacturing environment.

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

$198,000 - $242,000

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

• 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.