Mechanical Product Engineer, Robotics

About the Team

Our Robotics team is focused on unlocking general-purpose robotics and pushing towards AGI-level intelligence in dynamic, real-world settings. Working across the entire model stack, we integrate cutting-edge hardware and software to explore a broad range of robotic form factors. We strive to seamlessly blend high-level AI capabilities with the physical constraints of physical robotic platforms.

About the Role

As a Hardware Engineer on the Robotics team, you will help shape the next generation of embodied AI. You’ll be involved in evaluating and refining new physical configurations - integrating novel sensors, actuators, and computational elements to bring our advanced models into the real world. This role offers the chance to influence how our AI scales beyond simulation, ensuring that each design, test, and iteration moves us closer to truly adaptive, versatile robotic systems.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA, and requires in-person 5 days a week.

You might thrive in this role if you:

• Have at least 8 years of consumer or industrial electronics experience, including at least 2 years of experience designing robotics hardware components and systems.
• Direct hands‑on experience in mechanism design, with a focus on design in actuators, motors, gearing and limb design.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experienced in Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), statistical tolerance analysis techniques, CTF dimensioning, and geometric tolerancing.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, materials science, and tolerance analysis.
• Excellent 3D CAD experience in a leading design tool, including basic strength analysis.
• Strong technical communication skills with peer engineers, software engineers and XFN partners.

Additional, preferred qualifications:

• Experience with thermal cooling solutions for hardware and silicon, or integrating sensors.
• Experience designing mechanical systems intended for high volume (1M+).
• Experience problem‑solving on assembly lines and directing CM teams in all design phases.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

OpenAI Aff… Policy Statement

For US Based Candidates:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy

At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

$380K – $460K
• Offers Equity

The base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

In addition to the salary range listed above, total compensation also includes generous equity and benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
• Mental health and wellness support
• 401(k) plan with 50% matching
• Generous time off, many company holidays, and multiple coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge.
• Paid parental leave (24 weeks paid birth‑parent leave & 20‑week paid parental leave) and family‑planning support
• Annual learning & development stipend ($1,500 per year)