Actuator Design Engineer

About the Team 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 people's lives.About the Role We are seeking a Senior Actuator Design and Integration Engineer to lead the development of custom electromechanical actuators for advanced robotic systems. You will own actuator development from early architecture and concept generation through prototype validation and system integration, partnering closely with mechanical, electrical, controls, firmware, reliability, and manufacturing teams.This role focuses on the design, integration, and validation of precision electromechanical systems, including motors, transmissions, sensing, structural components, and thermal architectures. You will help drive actuator development across the full engineering lifecycle while establishing scalable design, test, and integration practices for future robotic platforms.This role is based in San Francisco, CA, and requires in-person presence 4 days a week.Responsibilities Lead the architecture, design, and integration of custom robotic actuators, including motors, transmissions, sensing, thermal systems, structural components, and packaging.Define actuator requirements and system‑level trade studies around torque density, bandwidth, efficiency, thermal performance, back‑drivability, inertia, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.Design precision electromechanical assemblies with strong attention to tolerances, alignment, load paths, thermal expansion, sealing, wear, and serviceability.Drive actuator integration into robotic systems, partnering closely with controls, firmware, electrical, and robotics software teams to optimize closed‑loop performance.Develop and evaluate architectures with integrated sensing and encoder strategies.Build and validate prototypes through hands‑on bring‑up, debugging, characterization, and iterative refinement.Develop test methodologies and characterization infrastructure for actuator performance, reliability, durability, and failure analysis.Analyze test data to identify limitations, failure modes, and opportunities for design improvement.Collaborate with manufacturing and supplier partners to transition designs from prototype to scalable production‑ready assemblies.Support DFM, DFA, DFT, calibration, and assembly strategies for electromechanical subsystems.Contribute to actuator sourcing strategy, vendor qualification, prototype builds, and supply‑chain development.Document designs, interfaces, validation results, and engineering decisions to support long‑term maintainability and production readiness.Help establish engineering standards, integration practices, and development workflows for future robotic platforms.Key Qualities Strong intuition for designing high‑performance electromechanical systems and understanding the trade‑offs between performance, robustness, manufacturability, and cost.Enjoy operating at both subsystem and system levels, balancing actuator‑level optimization with overall robot integration needs.Highly hands‑on and enjoy building, debugging, instrumenting, and testing hardware directly.Ability to move fluidly between first‑principles analysis, rapid prototyping, and production‑oriented engineering decisions.Comfortable working in fast‑moving environments with evolving requirements and aggressive technical goals.Strong sense of ownership and proactively drive cross‑functional alignment to unblock progress.Clear communication across disciplines and effective collaboration with research, controls, manufacturing, and operations teams.Motivation to enable the next generation of intelligent robotic systems through differentiated hardware capabilities.Preferred Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related field.7+ years of experience designing electromechanical systems, robotic actuators, or precision mechatronic hardware.Experience developing actuators for robotics, automation, aerospace, automotive, or other high‑performance dynamic systems.Strong understanding of motors, transmissions, bearings, encoders, structural design, thermal management, and precision mechanical integration.Familiarity with actuator sensing architectures, including encoder integration and calibration strategies.Experience designing for prototype and production manufacturing processes including machining, casting, molding, and assembly.Proficiency with CAD and PLM tools such as NX and Teamcenter or equivalent systems.Experience developing validation plans, reliability testing, and failure analysis workflows.Experience scaling hardware systems from prototype through EVT/DVT/PVT and into production is a plus.Equal Opportunity Employer OpenAI is 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.Background Checks Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US‑based candidates.Accommodations We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via the provided link.#J-18808-Ljbffr