Mechanical Engineer

OpenAI•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support the design, integration, and sustaining engineering of mechanical subsystems in robotic platforms. You will work closely with experienced engineers and cross-functional partners to develop and iterate on hardware that meets functional, durability, and manufacturing requirements. This role focuses on building strong fundamentals in mechanical system design — including tolerance, alignment, load paths, wear, and failure modes — while contributing to real hardware programs moving from prototype through early production. You will support both new subsystem development and ongoing improvements to existing systems based on testing, field performance, and manufacturing feedback.

Requirements

Have strong mechanical intuition and are motivated to understand how things fail, wear, and degrade over time.
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 learning from more experienced engineers.
Are detail-oriented and value clear documentation and repeatability.
Enjoy working across disciplines and collaborating with design, manufacturing, and research teams.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
Internship or project 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.
Exposure to engineering drawings and tolerancing practices.
Experience with prototyping, lab work, or hardware bring-up.
Experience working on multidisciplinary projects involving hardware and software integration.

Responsibilities

Support the design and iteration of mechanical subsystems, including structures, mechanisms, 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.