DAQ Station Engineer
At a glance
Why this role might suit you
The position offers hands‑on work on robotic data collection hardware at a leading AI research organization, involving design, prototyping, and cross‑functional collaboration in a fast‑moving environment.
Skills
About the role
About the Team
The OpenAI 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.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We’re looking for a DAQ Station Hardware Engineer to develop and improve the physical hardware that goes into OpenAI’s robotic data collection stations. This role will design, prototype, validate, and deploy station hardware such as fixtures, mounts, operator interfaces, workcell equipment, safety mechanisms, and other electromechanical systems that support reliable daily operation.
You will work closely with Robotics Engineering, Research, Software, and Operations to translate evolving needs into practical hardware solutions that are robust, serviceable, and scalable across an expanding DAQ footprint.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Design and develop station hardware and electromechanical subsystems, including fixtures, equipment mounts, operator-facing hardware, sensing support structures, enclosures, and safety-related components.
- Translate program and operational needs into clear hardware requirements, prototypes, and production-ready designs.
- Support hardware through the full lifecycle: concept, detailed design, build, test, deployment, issue resolution, and iteration.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure station hardware integrates cleanly with robotics platforms, software, data collection workflows, and operator use cases.
- Improve station reliability, usability, and serviceability by diagnosing field issues and driving durable engineering fixes.
- Work with vendors, machine shops, and fabrication partners to produce custom hardware and manage technical build quality.
- Contribute to design standards, documentation, and validation practices that support repeatable station deployments.
YOU MIGHT THRIVE IN THIS ROLE IF YOU
- Have strong experience developing mechanical or electromechanical hardware for complex physical systems.
- Have designed equipment, fixtures, workcells, test systems, automation hardware, or similar operator-facing environments.
- Are comfortable moving from ambiguous requirements to hands-on prototypes and robust released designs.
- Bring sound judgment around mechanical design, DFM/DFA, serviceability, durability, ergonomics, and real-world use conditions.
- Work effectively across engineering and operations teams and enjoy solving problems that show up in live physical environments.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in robotics, automation, advanced manufacturing, test systems, or high-complexity hardware environments.
- Familiarity with CAD, prototyping, fabrication methods, design documentation, and issue tracking.
- Experience developing hardware intended for repeated daily use in operational settings.
- Experience working with external suppliers, machine shops, or contract fabricators.
WORKPLACE & LOCATION
This role is based in San Francisco, CA and will require substantial in-person presence to support hardware development, validation, and deployment.
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.
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At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.
Compensation
This Hardware Engineer role pays $342k-$380k/yr. Within typical range for hardware engineer roles in United States.
Questions about this role
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