Mechanical Design Engineer, Motor Design & Prototyping

Our Robotics team is focused on unlocking general-purpose robotics and pushing towards AGI-level intelligence in dynamic real-world settings. Working across the entire model stack we integrate cutting-edge hardware and software to explore a broad range of robotic form factors. We strive to seamlessly blend high-level AI capabilities with the constraints of physical systems to improve peoples lives.

We are seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the development of motor mechanical designs and prototype hardware for advanced robotic systems. You will own stator and rotor mechanical development from early concepts and detailed design through hands-on builds and prototype validation partnering closely with electromagnetic electrical test and manufacturing teams.

This role focuses on the design integration and validation of motor components and prototype processes including laminations stack assemblies bobbins winding interfaces and fixtures. You will help drive motor development from initial design through repeatable low-volume builds while establishing the tooling work instructions and validation practices needed for future robotic platforms.

This role is based in San Francisco CA and requires in-person presence 4 days a week.

• Own stator and rotor mechanical designs and released CAD and drawings including geometry interfaces fits tolerances retention assembly access and mechanical validation.

• Develop laminations stack assembly methods bobbins and winding interfaces that control alignment insulation conductor placement and end-turn packaging.

• Design fabricate and debug fixtures for winding stacking assembly alignment and inspection.

• Build and troubleshoot prototypes. Use measurements defects rework and assembly effort to improve designs and processes.

• Establish low-volume prototype production with equipment build sequences work instructions revision control traceability and acceptance checks that let technicians reproduce successful builds.

• Test new manufacturing methods and winding approaches balancing performance repeatability and practical implementation.

• Work with electromagnetic electrical manufacturing and test engineers to resolve tradeoffs between motor performance packaging buildability and validation.

• Move comfortably between CAD the shop measurements and hands-on builds and take ownership of the physical result.

• Understand how tolerances insulation tool access and assembly sequence affect whether a motor can be built and used reliably.

• Diagnose failed builds through evidence and focused experiments then carry the fix into the next iteration.

• Build useful processes while designs evolve and document them so others can reproduce the result.

• Communicate assumptions and tradeoffs clearly and resolve coupled problems across disciplines.

• Experience designing and building motors actuators or other precision electromechanical assemblies.

• Experience with lamination stacks bobbins winding insulation interfaces or small-component assembly.

• Proficiency in 3D CAD manufacturing drawings tolerance analysis and fixture design with hands-on metrology and inspection of critical mechanical interfaces.

• Machining additive manufacturing bonding or other prototype manufacturing processes.

• Experience turning an initial build into a repeatable low-volume process.

• Interest in using AI to reduce repetitive design and prototype work with careful engineering review.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core and to achieve our mission we must encompass and value the many different perspectives voices and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.

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.

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