Technical Program Manager, Actuators

OpenAI • San Francisco, CA

1d • $207,000 - $285,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for a Technical Program Manager to own actuator development and integration from system goals through production readiness. The actuator program spans mechanical, electrical, firmware, harnessing, controls, test, reliability, manufacturing, and supply chain, and needs a TPM who can turn cross-functional decisions into clear scope, executable milestones, and timely decisions. In this role, you will help the team converge on the right technical plan, surface risks early, and deliver reliable actuator systems on schedule. This role is based in San Francisco, CA and requires in-person presence 4 days a week.

Requirements

• Have led complex electromechanical hardware programs from development through manufacturing.
• Are equally comfortable reasoning about an actuator’s internal architecture and how it integrates into the larger system through PCBAs, connectors, cables,etc.
• Can work effectively across ME, EE, firmware, interconnecting harnesses, controls, test, reliability, manufacturing, and supply chain.
• Understand hardware development realities including prototype cycles, long-lead parts, suppliers, testing, design changes, and production ramp.

Responsibilities

• Drive actuator programs end-to-end, aligning scope, milestones, interfaces, dependencies, and exit criteria across engineering teams.
• Drive scope lock and technical convergence for sprints, MVPs, and stretch goals while connecting component decisions to system performance.
• Coordinate actuator development across motors, gears, sensing, electronics, and firmware, and align the electrical and mechanical interfaces that connect actuators to the broader robot.
• Lead validation planning from early prototypes through engineering validation, reliability testing, and production readiness.
• Drive tradeoff decisions across cost, quality, performance, schedule, and lead time by collaborating cross-functionally and quantifying impact to meet program deliverables.
• Establish effective mechanisms for technical reviews, change control, design releases, decision tracking, and manufacturing readiness.
• Surface risks early and drive decisions, owners, and actions to closure.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed