Robotics Test Engineer

OpenAI • San Francisco, CA

2d • $225,000 - $318,000

About The Position

As a Test Engineer on OpenAI’s Robotics team, you will help shape the next generation of embodied AI. You will design and run exploratory and requirements-driven tests, build custom test equipment, analyze results, and translate findings into actionable insights that drive design improvements and mitigate hardware and software risks. The role focuses on extending AI beyond simulation and advancing adaptive, versatile robotic systems.

You will design test benches and plans, perform validation and verification, analyze and report results, and work with engineering, product, and leadership teams to inform design and strategic decisions. You will also design and execute compliance and regulatory testing campaigns and help determine when testing should be conducted in-house or by third parties.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of experience in hardware testing or validation, including at least 2 years working with robotics hardware components and systems.
• Bachelor’s or graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong intuition for mechanical and electromechanical systems and how they fail, degrade, or vary in real-world operation.
• Ability and interest in hands-on lab work designing, instrumenting, operating, and debugging test equipment and robotic hardware.
• Ability to turn evolving requirements and ambiguous failures into repeatable tests, trustworthy data, and clear engineering decisions.
• Ability to balance rigorous validation, safety, and traceability with rapid hardware iteration.
• Clear communication across mechanical, electrical, software, controls, and manufacturing teams, and ability to build alignment on risks and corrective actions.
• Experience designing test fixtures and stands using CAD, engineering drawings, and GD&T.
• Hands-on experience integrating sensors, instrumentation, and data acquisition (DAQ) systems, including calibration and measurement traceability.
• Experience developing automated or hardware-in-the-loop tests using Python, C/C++, or AI coding tools for test execution, data collection, and analysis.
• Experience designing reliability, accelerated life, environmental, and hardware qualification tests for robotic or electromechanical systems.
• Experience supporting EVT, DVT, PVT, pilot production, or sustaining hardware validation.
• Experience using root cause analysis, FMEA, or FEA to guide design improvements.
• Experience executing product standards compliance certification campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Design and build custom test benches to evaluate system performance under realistic operating conditions, using CAD and applying familiarity with GD&T.
• Analyze and interpret test data to identify trends, anomalies, and root causes.
• Develop and maintain test plans that validate mechanical performance against product requirements.
• Execute validation and verification testing and capture quantitative and qualitative data with high fidelity.
• Write clear, actionable test reports summarizing results, highlighting risks, and recommending design or process changes.
• Partner with engineering, product, and leadership teams to inform design iterations and strategic decisions.
• Design and execute compliance and regulatory testing campaigns and inform in-house versus third-party testing strategy.

What This Job Offers

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