Biomechanics Researcher

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

1X Labs exists to provide the science and technology that enables human-level, general-purpose humanoids.

We are rigorous about identifying the gap between current robotic performance and human capability, then developing the technologies required to close it. Our work spans sensing, actuation, materials, control, and intelligence, with the expectation that fundamental discoveries ultimately become real products.

The Biomechanics function sits at the intersection of biology and engineering. We use biological systems not as templates to copy, but as reference systems that reveal what high-performance interaction, movement, sensing, and adaptation actually require.

YOUR CHARTER

Define what human-level performance means in quantitative, engineering-relevant terms and translate those insights into specifications that guide the development of humanoid robots.

You will study biological systems to understand how they generate force, absorb energy, sense contact, maintain stability, and adapt to changing environments. From those observations, you'll develop performance models, scaling laws, and engineering targets that influence the design of actuators, sensors, materials, mechanisms, and control systems.

As a Biomechanics Researcher, your work will help ensure that engineering decisions remain grounded in the realities of biological performance rather than arbitrary technical metrics.

KEY OUTCOMES

- Develop quantitative performance models that define human-level capability across locomotion, manipulation, sensing, and physical interaction

- Establish engineering specifications and benchmarks derived from biological systems that directly influence hardware and software development

- Design and execute experiments that reveal the mechanisms underlying biological performance and adaptation

- Identify performance gaps between robotic systems and biological reference systems, providing actionable guidance for closing them

- Enable cross-functional teams to make better design decisions by translating biological insights into practical engineering constraints and opportunities

KEY COMPETENCIES

- Deep expertise in biomechanics and biological performance analysis

- Ability to translate biological observations into engineering models, specifications, and design requirements

- Strong experimental mindset with experience designing, instrumenting, and analyzing complex physical systems

- Ability to work effectively across multiple disciplines including robotics, controls, materials, sensing, and mechanical systems

- Intellectual rigor combined with the ability to operate effectively in highly ambiguous research environments

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

- PhD in Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field with 5+ years of experience.

- Demonstrated expertise beyond descriptive biomechanics, with a focus on modeling, quantitative analysis, or engineering applications

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