Technical Soft Goods Designer

OpenAI • San Francisco, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Technical Soft Goods Designer to lead the design, prototyping, and integration of soft goods for robotic systems. In this role, you will work closely with mechanical, electrical, and robotics engineers to develop soft components that interface directly with hardware—such as covers, protective elements, wear surfaces, cable management solutions, and interaction-facing materials.
This is a highly hands-on role for someone who understands both materials and machines. You will source and evaluate fabrics, elastomers, foams, and composites; prototype and test soft goods under real operational conditions; and iterate designs to meet functional, durability, and usability requirements. Your work will shape how robotic systems perform, endure, and interact with the world.
This role is based in San Francisco, CA, and requires in-person 4 days a week.

Requirements

• Have experience designing and prototyping technical soft goods for hardware products or systems.
• Are comfortable working closely with hardware and robotics engineers to solve interface and integration challenges.
• Understand material properties and tradeoffs across textiles, elastomers, foams, and flexible composites.
• Enjoy hands-on prototyping and are energized by fast iteration cycles.
• Can translate functional requirements into physical designs that perform under real-world constraints.
• Are organized, detail-oriented, and thoughtful about documentation and repeatability.
• Are curious, experimental, and excited to help define best practices in a still-emerging design space.

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing soft goods for robotics, wearables, medical devices, or outdoor/industrial products.
• Familiarity with environmental testing, abrasion testing, or durability validation.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers or specialty fabricators.
• Comfort iterating between early exploratory prototypes and more production-oriented designs.

Responsibilities

• Design soft goods that integrate seamlessly with robotic hardware, sensors, and actuators.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and robotics engineers to define requirements and interfaces.
• Source, evaluate, and test materials for durability, flexibility, environmental resistance, and manufacturability.
• Prototype soft components using a range of fabrication methods (cut-and-sew, lamination, molding, bonding, etc.).
• Build and iterate on prototypes to support testing in varied operating conditions.
• Document designs, material choices, and test results to support iteration and handoff.
• Provide technical feedback to engineering teams based on real-world performance and failure modes.

What This Job Offers

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