Mechanical Engineer, Dynamometer and Actuator Testing Infrastructure

OpenAI • San Francisco, CA

9d • $225,000 - $318,000 • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and own the mechanical side of our robotic actuator dynamometer and test infrastructure. You will create the test stands, couplings, fixtures, load paths, guarding, and serviceable lab hardware that enable rigorous characterization of robotic actuators. This role combines precision mechanical design with hands-on lab work. You will take robotic actuator test infrastructure from requirements and analysis through CAD, fabrication, assembly, commissioning, and iteration, partnering closely with electrical and software engineers to deliver safe, flexible, high-uptime test cells.

Requirements

• Strong intuition for load paths, stiffness, alignment, rotating machinery, and the practical behavior of real hardware.
• Enjoy designing fixtures and structures that are precise, robust, safe, and easy for others to use.
• Highly hands-on and comfortable assembling, aligning, instrumenting, and debugging test equipment.
• Can move fluidly between first-principles analysis, CAD, vendor collaboration, and lab iteration.
• Care about details such as tolerances, runout, resonance, thermal growth, guarding, and serviceability.
• Comfortable working in fast-moving environments with evolving test needs and aggressive technical goals.
• Take ownership of the full test-stand lifecycle, from concept through reliable daily operation.
• Communicate clearly across mechanical, electrical, controls, software, safety, and operations teams.
• Motivated by building infrastructure that reveals how advanced robotic actuators really perform.
• Excited to build mechanical test infrastructure that accelerates robotic actuator development.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s or graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• Experience designing mechanical systems for robotic actuator dynamometers, robotics, automation, rotating machinery, aerospace, automotive, or similar high-performance hardware.
• Strong understanding of structures, load paths, shafts, bearings, couplings, fasteners, tolerances, alignment, and vibration.
• Experience designing fixtures, test stands, frames, guarding, and precision mechanical interfaces.
• Proficiency with CAD and drawing release workflows; NX, SolidWorks, Creo, or equivalent experience is welcome.
• Experience with structural, thermal, fatigue, or modal analysis and applying results to practical hardware decisions.
• Hands-on experience with assembly, machining, metrology, alignment, and troubleshooting in a lab or prototype environment.
• Familiarity with mechanical safety for rotating equipment, containment, interlocks, and safe operating envelopes.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical architecture of dynamometer and actuator test cells, including frames, bases, load paths, alignment, guarding, and serviceability.
• Design dynamometer structures, robotic actuator fixtures, load-motor mounts, couplings, shafts, bearings, adapters, and torque-reaction hardware.
• Translate robotic actuator test requirements into robust mechanical systems for torque, speed, thermal, durability, backdrive, efficiency, and failure testing.
• Perform first-principles analysis and simulation for stiffness, strength, fatigue, vibration, thermal growth, critical speed, and safety factors.
• Create precise, repeatable alignment strategies that protect test articles, load machines, sensors, and couplings.
• Design modular fixturing that supports rapid changeover across actuator and motor variants without compromising measurement quality.
• Work closely with electrical engineers on cable routing, enclosures, cooling, sensor packaging, and test-cell safety interfaces.
• Work closely with software and controls engineers to define mechanical limits, safe operating envelopes, and automated-test constraints.
• Build, assemble, debug, and improve test stands in the lab, using measurement and fabrication tools directly.
• Develop guarding, containment, pinch-point mitigation, hard stops, and other mechanical safety systems for high-energy rotating equipment.
• Manage fabrication partners and vendors for machined parts, weldments, bearings, couplings, sensors, and test-stand components.
• Establish drawings, tolerance stacks, assembly procedures, inspection plans, and preventive-maintenance practices.
• Use test observations and failure analysis to continuously improve durability, usability, uptime, and measurement fidelity.

Benefits

• 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.
• We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior