1X Technologies AS Software Engineer interview questions & guide 2026

The questions you will face during the 1X Technologies AS hiring process are designed to test your core engineering fundamentals, your familiarity with hardware-software integration, and your ability to solve complex systems challenges. Because the software team works closely with physical hardware, expect a mix of classic computer science questions, low-level systems design, and practical engineering scenarios.

Systems & Low-Level Programming

These questions evaluate your understanding of operating systems, memory management, and low-latency code execution, which are critical for real-time robot control.

• How do you manage memory allocation in a real-time system to avoid latency spikes?
• Explain the difference between process-level and thread-level concurrency in a Linux environment.

Preparing for an interview at 1X Technologies AS requires a balanced approach that combines deep technical preparation with a strong understanding of physical systems. You should approach your preparation with the mindset of a systems thinker who appreciates both elegant code and physical constraints.

Technical and Systems Depth – You must demonstrate a strong grasp of computer science fundamentals, low-level systems, or your specific domain (such as cloud, simulation, or OS). Be ready to explain the "why" behind your architectural decisions, focusing on performance, latency, and reliability.

Hardware-Software Integration – Even if you are applying for a pure software role, you must show an appreciation for the physical realities of robotics. Understanding how software interacts with microcontrollers, sensors, actuators, and communication buses will set you apart.

Problem-Solving Under Ambiguity – Humanoid robotics is an unsolved field. Interviewers want to see how you structure your thoughts when faced with open-ended, novel challenges where there is no standard textbook solution.

Collaborative Grit – Building robots is a team sport. You need to demonstrate that you can work seamlessly with mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and ML researchers, showing humility, curiosity, and a shared passion for the mission.

The interview process at 1X Technologies AS is designed to evaluate both your technical capabilities and your alignment with the company's fast-paced, collaborative culture. While the process is rigorous, candidates frequently report that the team is supportive, welcoming, and genuinely interested in giving you the opportunity to showcase your strengths.

The initial stages typically begin with a recruiter screen or a specialized screening format depending on your location. For some roles, particularly in European offices, the initial screen may involve an HR representative reading structured technical questions and recording your responses for the engineering team to review asynchronously. In US locations, the process often starts with a friendly 30-minute introductory call with a recruiter, followed by a technical screening call with the hiring manager.

Following a successful screening phase, candidates are invited to a comprehensive technical panel or an on-site interview. The on-site experience typically consists of multiple technical deep dives with different engineers, covering specialized topics relevant to your track, such as low-level systems, simulation, or hardware diagnostics. The team often facilitates travel for on-site interviews, providing an excellent opportunity to see the office, meet the team in person, and experience the company's engineering culture firsthand.

The visual timeline above outlines the standard progression from your initial application to the final offer stage. Candidates should use this timeline to pace their preparation, ensuring they are fully prepared for the deep technical rounds that occur during the on-site panel. While the exact sequence can vary slightly by team and location, the transition from high-level screening to intensive technical evaluation remains consistent.

To succeed at 1X Technologies AS, you must perform strongly across several core evaluation areas. The interviewers will assess your skills through practical scenarios and technical discussions tailored to your engineering track.

Systems & Low-Level Programming

This area evaluates your ability to write efficient, low-latency code that can run reliably on physical hardware. Humanoid robots require high-frequency control loops, meaning memory leaks, CPU bottlenecks, or inefficient algorithms can have physical consequences.

Be ready to go over:

• Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) – Understanding task prioritization, preemptive scheduling, and interrupt handling.

As a Software Engineer at 1X Technologies AS, your day-to-day responsibilities will vary depending on your specific team, but will generally revolve around the following core activities:

• Developing Robot Software: Writing clean, robust, and highly optimized code in C++ or Python to run on humanoid robots, edge devices, or cloud platforms.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Working closely with mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and machine learning researchers to define hardware-software interfaces, debug complex system integration issues, and bring new robotic capabilities to life.
• Building Infrastructure & Tools: Designing and maintaining the simulation environments, teleoperation interfaces, data pipelines, and diagnostic tools that enable rapid development and testing of physical AI.
• Testing & Validation: Conducting rigorous testing of your software in simulation and on physical hardware to ensure safety, reliability, and performance in real-world environments.
• Optimizing System Performance: Profiling and optimizing software to meet strict real-time constraints, minimize latency, and maximize compute efficiency on resource-constrained hardware.

The ideal candidate for a Software Engineer role at 1X Technologies AS is a hands-on problem solver who combines strong software engineering skills with an interest in physical systems.

• Must-have skills:

  • Strong proficiency in C++ or Python, with a solid understanding of software design patterns and clean code principles.
  • Solid foundation in Linux environments, including shell scripting, system configuration, and debugging tools.
  • Experience with robotics frameworks such as ROS or ROS2, or equivalent experience with real-time systems, concurrency, and IPC.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a cross-disciplinary team.

• Nice-to-have skills:

  • Hands-on experience with physical robotics, microcontrollers, or hardware-software integration.
  • Familiarity with 3D math, kinematics, physics engines, or simulation tools (e.g., MuJoCo, Isaac Sim).
  • Experience with cloud infrastructure, Docker, Kubernetes, or data pipelines for large-scale ML training.
  • Background in mechanical or electrical engineering concepts, including experience with CAD tools or hardware diagnostics.

Q: What is the interview difficulty level at 1X Technologies AS? A: Candidates generally describe the interview difficulty as average to challenging. The technical questions are highly practical and focused on core engineering fundamentals rather than obscure algorithmic puzzles. The difficulty lies in your ability to apply these fundamentals to complex, real-world physical systems.

Q: How much preparation time is typical for this role? A: Most successful candidates spend 2 to 4 weeks preparing. Your preparation should focus on reviewing operating systems concepts, concurrency, low-level programming, and any specific domain knowledge (such as ROS2, CAD, or physics engines) relevant to your target track.

Q: What is the hybrid/remote work policy for software engineers? A: Because this role involves direct interaction with physical humanoid robots and cross-disciplinary hardware teams, most engineering positions require a strong on-site presence. While some remote flexibility exists for pure cloud or simulation roles, expect to work primarily from the local office (e.g., San Carlos, CA, or Oslo, Norway) to maximize collaboration and hardware access.

Q: How should I handle the asynchronous, recorded video interview if I encounter it? A: If you face a recorded interview screen, focus on delivering structured, detailed, and complete answers. Since you cannot read the interviewer's body language or ask for immediate feedback, explain your thought process from first principles, state your assumptions clearly, and avoid short, one-word answers.

Q: What distinguishes candidates who receive offers from those who do not? A: Successful candidates demonstrate not just strong coding skills, but a genuine passion for robotics and physical AI. They show an eagerness to get their hands dirty, collaborate across engineering disciplines, and approach complex hardware-software problems with humility, curiosity, and structured problem-solving.

To maximize your chances of success during the 1X Technologies AS interview process, keep these practical, insider tips in mind:

• Provide Detailed, Thorough Answers: Whether in a live interview or a recorded session, avoid brief or superficial answers. The team values engineering depth; walk through your reasoning, discuss trade-offs, and explain the "why" behind your technical decisions.
• Master Your Fundamentals: Don't get bogged down trying to memorize complex robotics algorithms. Focus on mastering core computer science and engineering fundamentals—concurrency, memory management, basic physics, and systems design—as these form the foundation of all technical evaluations.

• Show Appreciation for Hardware Constraints: When designing software solutions, always consider the physical realities of the robot. Discuss how your code impacts latency, CPU utilization, power consumption, and physical safety, demonstrating that you understand the unique challenges of robotics.

• Align with the Mission: 1X Technologies AS is building the future of physical AI. Express your genuine interest in humanoid robotics, share any personal projects or relevant experiences, and demonstrate your excitement for solving the hard, unsolved problems of the robotics frontier.

Securing a Software Engineer position at 1X Technologies AS is an opportunity to work at the bleeding edge of physical AI and humanoid robotics. The work you do here will directly shape how robots interact with, learn from, and assist humans in their daily lives. By focusing your preparation on core systems programming, hardware-software integration, and structured problem-solving, you can confidently navigate the interview process and demonstrate your readiness to contribute to this ambitious mission.

As you prepare, remember to treat each interview as a collaborative engineering discussion. Show your technical depth, ask insightful questions, and let your passion for robotics shine through. For more detailed interview insights, real candidate experiences, and preparation resources, be sure to explore the comprehensive guides available on Dataford.

The salary data above represents the typical compensation ranges for engineering roles at 1X Technologies AS in the United States. When evaluating these numbers, consider that your specific offer will depend on your experience level, technical track, and location. Use this data as a benchmark for your compensation discussions, keeping in mind that the company offers competitive packages designed to attract top-tier engineering talent to build the future of robotics.