Mechanical Engineer (Sensing), 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 constraints of physical systems to improve peoples’ lives.

About the Role

As a Mechanical Engineer on the Robotics team, you will help shape the next generation of embodied AI. You’ll design and prototype novel tactile and force sensor solutions, validate their performance through rigorous testing and analysis, and translate results into robust, manufacturable designs. By working across disciplines and with suppliers, you’ll ensure every part—from CAD model to production drawing—meets the highest standards of reliability and scalability. This role offers the chance to shape how advanced sensing technology powers adaptive, intelligent machines in the real world.

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

You might thrive in this role if you:

• Have at least 6+ years of consumer or industrial electronics experience, including at least 2 years experience designing robotics hardware components and systems.

• Experienced with state of the art force, tactile, and proprioception sensor technology.

• Integrate existing sensing technologies into new compact forms.

• Design, prototype, and iterate on novel sensing technologies and applications.

• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to define requirements and translate them into practical sensor solutions.

• Build detailed part and assembly models in CAD, ensuring designs are robust and manufacturable.

• Apply engineering analyses—including tolerance studies, FEA, and other simulations—to validate designs before release.

• Produce clear, accurate 2D drawings aligned with production and inspection standards, with proper use of GD&T.

• Have a Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Additional, preferred qualifications:

• A passion for electro-mechanical product design, creative problem-solving, and driving innovation

• Practical knowledge of designing parts for plastic injection molding, sheet metal stamping, and casting processes.

• Ability to perform first-principles analysis across mechanics, thermal effects, stress/strain, and tolerances.

• Experience designing mechanical systems intended for high volume (1M+), 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 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.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act. 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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