OpenAI is recruiting an electrical engineer for its robotics team in San Francisco, a sign that the company is continuing to invest in hardware as it works toward more capable robots that can operate in real-world settings.
The job posting seeks an experienced engineer to help develop the next generation of robotic systems. The role is centered on electrical design work across the full hardware lifecycle, including early concept work, prototyping, circuit design, component selection, PCB layout, system bring-up, integration and deployment.
According to the posting, the robotics group is focused on building general-purpose robots and advancing toward AGI-level intelligence in dynamic environments. The team said it works across both the model and systems stack, combining hardware and software to explore different robotic designs and physical form factors.
The position appears to call for someone who can take broad, loosely defined goals and turn them into working systems. OpenAI said the engineer would be expected to make technical decisions independently, coordinate with other teams and drive hardware projects from concept through deployment. The company also said the role requires balancing speed with reliability, particularly as many of the systems are still being defined.
The posting emphasizes collaboration with mechanical, firmware, software, controls and research teams. The engineer would be responsible for helping develop compact robotic and electromechanical systems, including sensing, communication, power distribution and actuator interfaces. OpenAI said the work involves not only designing electronics, but also validating hardware in integrated robotic systems and resolving issues from first observation through root cause analysis.
The preferred background is broad and hands-on. OpenAI said it is looking for candidates with at least six years of experience in electrical systems for robotics or closely related products such as consumer electronics, medical devices, wearables or cameras. It also values experience with dense hardware packaging, including rigid-flex assemblies, fine-pitch interconnects and other compact design approaches.
The listing suggests that the company wants an engineer comfortable operating across disciplines. The ideal candidate, OpenAI said, should be able to reason across electrical, firmware and mechanical boundaries, while also working closely with manufacturing and research partners. Experience with high-speed camera interfaces, distributed robotic systems, EVT or DVT build phases and diagnostic firmware in languages such as C, C++, Rust or Python is listed as a plus.
The position is based in San Francisco and requires in-person work four days a week. OpenAI listed compensation for the role at $295,000 to $380,000, plus equity.
OpenAI has been expanding its ambitions beyond software into physical systems, and the new posting adds to evidence that robotics remains an active area of investment. The company describes its broader mission as building artificial intelligence that benefits people and says it wants to deploy advanced systems safely.
The job posting also includes standard equal employment opportunity language and notes that background checks will be handled according to applicable laws. It offers accommodations for applicants with disabilities and provides contact options for reporting posting compliance concerns.