Mechanical Engineer, Sensing

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 AI system capabilities and aim to safely deploy them globally through our products. We believe AI is an extremely powerful tool that must prioritize safety and human needs, and our mission requires diverse perspectives, voices, and experiences from across humanity. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

Introduction

Our Robotics team is dedicated to advancing general-purpose robotics towards AGI in real-world environments. We integrate cutting-edge hardware and software across the entire model stack to explore diverse robotic form factors, aiming to blend high-level AI capabilities with physical system constraints to enhance human lives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and iteration of mechanical subsystems, including tactile sensors, load cells, force torque sensors, and joint encoders.
• Create and maintain CAD models, assemblies, and drawings with appropriate tolerancing and documentation.
• Build and test prototypes, and debug mechanical issues such as fit, alignment, friction, and wear.
• Assist in developing test methods and executing validation to evaluate performance, durability, calibration, and failure modes.
• Work with cross-functional teams to integrate mechanical components with sensors, actuators, and control systems.
• Support the transition of designs from prototype to manufacturable assemblies, incorporating Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) considerations.
• Collaborate with manufacturing partners and internal build teams to support assembly, troubleshooting, and process improvement.
• Analyze test results and field data to identify issues and drive iterative design improvements.
• Document designs, test results, and changes to support repeatability and production readiness.
• Support sustaining engineering efforts by investigating failures, tracking issues, and implementing corrective actions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical design, robotics, or electromechanical systems.
• Experience with CAD tools (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, or similar).
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes such as machining, screen printing, lamination, molding, or basic fabrication methods.
• Familiarity with high volume Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), engineering drawings, and tolerancing practices.
• Experience with prototyping, lab work, or hardware bring-up.
• Experience working on multidisciplinary projects involving hardware and software integration.
• Strong mechanical intuition and previous experience designing novel mechanical or electrical subsystems for robotic systems.
• Enjoy hands-on work building, testing, and debugging physical systems.
• Comfortable iterating quickly and learning from incomplete or evolving requirements.
• Ability to break down problems and work through details such as tolerances, interfaces, and assembly constraints.
• Proactive in seeking feedback and alignment with cross-functional partners.
• Detail-oriented and value clear documentation and repeatability.
• Experience scaling physical products from prototyping through high volume production.

Benefits

OpenAI provides competitive compensation and benefits for its employees. Specific details on benefits package were not provided in the job description.

About Company

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 AI system capabilities and aim to safely deploy them globally through our products. We believe AI is an extremely powerful tool that must prioritize safety and human needs, and our mission requires diverse perspectives, voices, and experiences from across humanity. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

How to Apply

Applicants should apply directly through the provided application link. Requests for reasonable accommodations can be made via this link. For more information, please see OpenAI’s Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement and OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy.