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Soft Goods Prototyping Jobs (NOW HIRING)

OSI Engineering

Head of Product Design

Palo Alto, CA · Hybrid

$300K - $350K/yr

Own ID and ME for the wearable end-to-end: sketch through CAD, prototype, tooling, and DfM with overseas CMs. * Lead the integration of electronics into soft goods: flex PCB packaging, rigid-island ...

Apple

Product Design Engineer - Softgoods

Boulder, CO · On-site

$133K - $160K/yr

... soft goods materials in their designs. By joining our team, you will work side by side with your ... You will assemble early prototypes, travel to China to support engineering builds, and solve ...

APA Services

Upholstery Fabricator

Little Rock, AR · On-site

$16.75 - $21.25/hr

Soft goods include crew seats, passenger seats, divans, side ledges, headliners and other assorted ... They are a creator of more than 100 prototypes in the last century, with over 10,000 aircraft ...

FluidLogic

Product Developer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$135K - $145K/yr

Designs translate cleanly into manufacturable, scalable solutions across plastics, soft goods, and electronics * Prototype and pilot build issues surface early, and design revisions are implemented ...

Apple

Product Design Engineer - Softgoods

Boulder, CO

$147K - $272K/yr

You will assemble early prototypes, travel to China to support engineering builds, and solve problems on the assembly line. Preferred Qualifications Knowledge of soft goods materials (synthetics ...

Kinsey's Inc

Product Design Engineer

Mount Joy, PA · On-site

$60K - $80K/yr

Design & engineer innovative, breakthrough concepts & products for soft goods that provide a ... Prototype & test concept designs & initial engineering results * Develop manufacturing efficiencies ...

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Soft Goods Prototyping information

What are common challenges encountered in a Soft Goods Prototyping role, and how can they be addressed?

One of the most common challenges in Soft Goods Prototyping is translating design concepts into tangible prototypes that accurately reflect intended function, form, and aesthetics. This often requires iterative testing, collaboration with designers and engineers, and flexibility in material selection. Managing tight timelines and sourcing appropriate fabrics or components can also be demanding. Successful prototypers address these challenges by maintaining strong communication with cross-functional teams, staying organized, and proactively seeking solutions for material and construction constraints.

What is the difference between Soft Goods Prototyping vs Pattern Maker?

AspectSoft Goods PrototypingPattern Maker
CredentialsOften requires sewing, design, and prototype skillsTypically needs pattern drafting and sewing skills, sometimes certifications in pattern making
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, manufacturing facilities, or labsPattern rooms, design studios, or manufacturing settings
Industry UsageUsed in apparel, accessories, and soft product developmentUsed in apparel, footwear, and soft goods industries
Search & Comparison IntentFocuses on prototype creation and testingFocuses on pattern design and development

Soft Goods Prototyping involves creating initial prototypes of soft products like clothing or accessories, emphasizing assembly and testing. Pattern Makers focus on designing and drafting patterns for production. While both roles collaborate closely, prototyping emphasizes hands-on assembly, whereas pattern making centers on pattern design and development.

What is soft goods prototyping?

Soft goods prototyping is the process of creating physical models or samples of products made from flexible materials such as fabrics, textiles, leather, or foam. It allows designers and manufacturers to test, refine, and demonstrate the functionality, appearance, and construction of items like clothing, bags, footwear, and upholstery before full-scale production. This stage is crucial for identifying design improvements, material choices, and manufacturing methods to ensure the final product meets quality and usability standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Soft Goods Prototyping Specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive in Soft Goods Prototyping, you need expertise in textile selection, pattern making, and sewing techniques, often supported by a background in industrial design or fashion design. Familiarity with CAD software, digital pattern drafting tools, and prototyping equipment like sewing machines and laser cutters is essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you iterate quickly and collaborate with design teams. These skills ensure functional, high-quality prototypes that meet design intent and accelerate product development.
Infographic showing various Soft Goods Prototyping job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 5% Nights. Highlights an 80% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution.

Mechanical Engineer - Interconnect & Tendon Systems

1X Technologies AS

San Carlos, CA • On-site

$155K - $189K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

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
The Robot Interconnect and Tendon Systems team develops the soft goods, harnessing, tendon routing, and compliant mechanical systems that enable reliable motion, durability, and integration across humanoid robotic platforms. A key focus area for the team is the development of foot soft goods systems that must withstand demanding real-world loading, wear, environmental exposure, and continuous robotic operation while remaining lightweight and manufacturable at scale.
You'll work closely with mechanical, industrial design, manufacturing, and integration teams to rapidly prototype, test, and refine foot soft goods assemblies and interconnect systems that are critical to overall robot reliability, mobility, and long-term performance.
Your Charter
Support the design, prototyping, integration, and validation of foot soft goods systems for humanoid robotics platforms. This role is critical to developing durable, manufacturable, and reliable assemblies including harnesses, tendon interfaces, sewn components, and compliant structures that integrate seamlessly into robotic systems while enabling rapid iteration and scaling toward production.
Key Outcomes
  • Design and release foot soft goods assemblies, harnesses, tendon routing components, and sewn systems that meet durability, integration, and manufacturability requirements.
  • Execute structured testing and validation efforts to identify wear patterns, failure modes, and reliability risks, driving measurable design improvements.
  • Develop and maintain CAD models, drawings, BOMs, and documentation to support prototype and production builds.
  • Partner effectively with vendors and internal manufacturing teams to improve assembly quality, repeatability, and production readiness.
  • Support rapid prototyping and iterative hardware development cycles while maintaining high attention to detail and execution quality.

Key Competencies
  • Strong hands-on engineering capability with experience building, testing, and iterating physical hardware systems.
  • Solid understanding of soft goods construction methods, wearable systems, textiles, harnesses, sewn assemblies, or tendon-driven systems.
  • Comfortable operating in fast-moving environments with evolving technical requirements and compressed timelines.
  • Strong mechanical intuition with the ability to troubleshoot integration, wear, and durability issues quickly.
  • Collaborative mindset with strong communication skills across design, manufacturing, and cross-functional engineering teams.

Minimum Requirements
  • 2-4 years of experience in mechanical engineering, soft goods product development, wearable products, robotics, or consumer hardware.
  • Hands-on experience designing, prototyping, and testing soft goods or textile-based assemblies.
  • Proficiency with CAD tools and engineering documentation workflows.
  • Experience working closely with prototype fabrication, assembly, or manufacturing processes.
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field.

Preferred Skills
  • Experience with harness systems, sewn assemblies, rope- or cable-driven systems, tendon routing systems, or compliant mechanisms.
  • Background working with suppliers or contract manufacturers on soft goods development.
  • Experience designing fixtures, jigs, or test setups for product validation.
  • Exposure to robotics, footwear, wearable technology, or high-reliability consumer hardware products.
  • Familiarity with rapid prototyping methods and iterative product development workflows.

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:
$155,250 - $189,750 + Equity
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.

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