Engineering Technician, Actuators
About The Position
OpenAI is seeking Engineering Technicians to support assembly, testing, and prototyping of custom electromechanical actuators for advanced robotic systems. The role involves building and testing hardware from engineering drawings and procedures, including inspection, troubleshooting, and rework, in close partnership with mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and test engineers. The work focuses on precision electromechanical hardware such as stator prototypes and motor and actuator assemblies, as well as mechanical and electrical testing. Technicians help turn engineering designs into validated hardware and improve build records, work instructions, and repeatable assembly and test practices for future robotic platforms. Openings focus on actuator builds, testing, or stator prototyping, with duties aligned to the selected specialty. The role is based in San Francisco, California, and requires in-person presence five days a week.
Requirements
- Hands-on experience building or testing mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical hardware in a lab, prototype shop, or manufacturing environment.
- Ability to work from drawings, bills of materials, wiring diagrams, and procedures, and recognize discrepancies between instructions and hardware.
- Careful use of hand tools, torque tools, and measurement equipment, with consistent workmanship and attention to units and acceptance limits.
- Methodical troubleshooting and documentation skills, including knowing when to pause work and request engineering support.
- Ownership of build quality and records while adapting to changing designs and priorities.
Nice To Haves
- Experience building or testing actuators, motors, robotics hardware, servos, or other precision electromechanical systems.
- Motor manufacturing experience, especially stator assembly, winding, insulation, termination, bonding, impregnation, or inspection.
- Experience with soldering, crimping, connector assembly, harness routing, adhesives, or fixture-assisted assembly.
- Experience with mechanical or electrical test setup, instrument checks, measurement capture, and documenting unexpected results.
- Experience with inspection, traceability, nonconformance handling, and structured rework.
- Hands-on rework, basic machining, or prototype part modification using shop tools.
- Experience using calipers, micrometers, multimeters, LCR meters, insulation-resistance testers, or torque tools.
- Experience improving prototype or manufacturing work instructions and build processes.
Responsibilities
- Assemble subassemblies and complete actuators from drawings, bills of materials, and work instructions; check fit, orientation, torque, routing, and workmanship.
- Set up and run established mechanical and electrical tests, verify setups against procedures, record measurements, and identify unexpected results.
- Support stator winding, insulation, termination, bonding, inspection, and rework using the selected build process and documented instructions.
- Troubleshoot build and test issues with engineers by inspecting and measuring, escalating deviations, and verifying results after approved rework.
- Maintain accurate build and test records, part and revision traceability, inspection results, and rework history.
- Use bench observations to improve work instructions, fixtures, tooling, and parts organization as prototypes evolve.
- Follow safety, ESD, cleanliness, and quality practices, and communicate material shortages, unclear instructions, and other blockers as priorities change.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
No Education Listed
