Senior Virtual Reality Engineer (VR)

Target start date: immediately.  Relocation provided.

Since its founding in 2015, 1X has been at the forefront of developing advanced humanoid robots designed for household use. Our mission is to create an abundant supply of labor via safe, intelligent humanoids. 

We strive for excellence in all we do, solving some of the hardest problems in robotics with the world’s most talented individuals. Every part of our robots is designed and produced in-house—from motor coils to AI—reflecting our vertically integrated approach. At 1X, you’ll own real projects, be recognized for your achievements, and rewarded based on merit.

We believe the best work is done when collaborating and therefore require in-person presence in our office locations. 

As we scale from research and development to full-scale manufacturing, we are looking for a Senior Virtual Reality Engineer to take the lead in crafting immersive VR teleoperation systems for our humanoid robots.

In this role, you will drive the design and development of next-generation VR solutions, combining technical expertise with creative problem-solving to deliver intuitive, high-performance systems. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, shaping the intersection of robotics and immersive technology, and directly impacting the future of humanoid robots.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the design and development of immersive VR teleoperation interfaces, leveraging Unity, OpenXR, and advanced native plugin integration.

• Architect and implement complex VR systems optimized for real-time robot teleoperation, ensuring scalability, performance, and reliability.

• Collaborate with robotics and AI teams to integrate VR systems with robot kinematics, motion controls, and sensor feedback, creating seamless human-robot interaction.

• Innovate and solve challenging VR problems, such as minimizing motion sickness, improving hand-eye coordination, and enhancing immersion in teleoperation scenarios.

• Continuously refine and elevate the user experience through intuitive UI/UX design, developing advanced menus, widgets, and interactive components.

• Stay at the forefront of VR and AR technology trends, driving innovation and applying emerging tools and techniques to enhance teleoperation capabilities.

• Mentor and guide less experienced engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and collaboration.

• Represent the VR domain in cross-functional leadership discussions, influencing product and technology strategies.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in VR development, with a proven track record of delivering high-impact, production-grade systems.

• Extensive expertise in Unity-based development, including OpenXR integration and building advanced, scalable VR applications.

• Strong background in VR system architecture, including optimizing for real-time performance and integrating native plugins.

• Deep understanding of immersion techniques, scale perception, motion sickness mitigation, and user-centered design principles.

• Exceptional coding skills in C++ and Python, with the ability to debug, optimize, and deliver complex systems.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work seamlessly with diverse, cross-functional teams.

Nice to have

• Experience with robotics systems, including kinematics, motion control, and sensor integration.

• Knowledge of media streaming protocols (RTSP, RTP, SDP, WebRTC) and DSP for spatial audio and beamforming.

• Familiarity with accelerating AI inference and computationally intensive processes within VR systems.

• Passion for pushing the boundaries of AR/VR technology and applying it to impactful, real-world applications.

Location

We believe the best work is done when collaborating and therefore require in-person presence in our office locations.

Sunnyvale, CA 

We are in the heart of the Silicon Valley in a commuter-friendly location with plenty of parking, access to 101 or 280. If you prefer public transportation, Orange Line (VTA) light rail station is across the street. Living in the Bay Area, you will have access to many activities available in its proximity from surfing in Half