Mechanical Design Engineer

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 constraints of physical systems to improve peoples’ lives.

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead the design, integration, and sustaining engineering of mechanical subsystems in robotic platforms. You will work closely with experienced engineers and cross-functional partners to set functional requirements, develop and iterate on hardware to meet program expectations.

This role is aimed at candidates with strong fundamentals in mechanical system design — including tolerance, alignment, load paths, wear, and failure modes — and robotics. You will contribute to real hardware programs moving from prototype through early production. You will lead both new subsystem development and ongoing improvements to existing systems based on testing, field performance, and manufacturing feedback.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA, and requires in-person presence 4 days a week.

In this role, you will

• Lead the design and iteration of mechanical subsystems, including structures, mechanisms, and actuators.

• Create and maintain CAD models, assemblies, and drawings with appropriate tolerancing and documentation.

• Build and test prototypes, supporting debugging of mechanical issues such as fit, alignment, friction, and wear.

• Assist in developing test methods and executing validation to evaluate performance, durability, and failure modes.

• Work with cross-functional teams to integrate mechanical components with sensors, actuators, and control systems.

• Support transition of designs from prototype to manufacturable assemblies, incorporating DFM and 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.

You might thrive in this role if you

• Have strong mechanical intuition and have previous experience lead mechanical design for robotic subsystems.

• Enjoy hands-on work building, testing, and debugging physical systems.

• Are comfortable iterating quickly and learning from incomplete or evolving requirements.

• Can break down problems and work through details such as tolerances, interfaces, and assembly constraints.

• Are proactive in seeking feedback and alignment with crossfunctional partners.

• Are detail-oriented and value clear documentation and repeatability.

• Have experience scaling physical products from prototyping through high volume production.

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.

• 5+ years 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, molding, or basic fabrication methods.

• Familiarity with high volume 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.

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 we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.

For additional information, please see OpenAI’s Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.

Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.

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