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OpenAI's Robotics team is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and own the mechanical infrastructure for robotic actuator dynamometer and test systems. This role bridges precision mechanical design with hands-on lab work, taking test infrastructure from requirements and analysis through CAD, fabrication, assembly, commissioning, and iteration.
You will own the mechanical architecture of dynamometer and actuator test cells, including frames, bases, load paths, alignment, guarding, and serviceability. Key responsibilities include designing dynamometer structures, robotic actuator fixtures, load-motor mounts, couplings, shafts, bearings, adapters, and torque-reaction hardware. You'll translate robotic actuator test requirements into robust mechanical systems capable of torque, speed, thermal, durability, backdrive, efficiency, and failure testing.
The role requires performing first-principles analysis and simulation for stiffness, strength, fatigue, vibration, thermal growth, critical speed, and safety factors. You'll create precise, repeatable alignment strategies that protect test articles, load machines, sensors, and couplings, and design modular fixturing that supports rapid changeover across actuator and motor variants without compromising measurement quality.
You will work closely with electrical engineers on cable routing, enclosures, cooling, sensor packaging, and test-cell safety interfaces, and collaborate with software and controls engineers to define mechanical limits, safe operating envelopes, and automated-test constraints. Hands-on lab work is central to this role—you'll build, assemble, debug, and improve test stands using measurement and fabrication tools directly.
Additional responsibilities include developing guarding, containment, and mechanical safety systems for high-energy rotating equipment; managing fabrication partners and vendors; establishing drawings, tolerance stacks, assembly procedures, and inspection plans; and using test observations and failure analysis to continuously improve durability, uptime, and measurement fidelity.
You should have strong intuition for load paths, stiffness, alignment, and rotating machinery. The ideal candidate is highly hands-on, comfortable assembling and debugging test equipment, and able to move fluidly between first-principles analysis, CAD, vendor collaboration, and lab iteration. You'll care deeply about details such as tolerances, runout, resonance, thermal growth, and serviceability, and thrive in fast-moving environments with evolving test needs.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's or graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or related field
- Experience designing mechanical systems for robotic actuator dynamometers, robotics, automation, rotating machinery, aerospace, automotive, or similar high-performance hardware
- Strong understanding of structures, load paths, shafts, bearings, couplings, fasteners, tolerances, alignment, and vibration
- Experience designing fixtures, test stands, frames, guarding, and precision mechanical interfaces
- Proficiency with CAD and drawing release workflows (NX, SolidWorks, Creo, or equivalent)
- Experience with structural, thermal, fatigue, or modal analysis and applying results to practical hardware decisions
- Hands-on experience with assembly, machining, metrology, alignment, and troubleshooting in lab or prototype environments
- Familiarity with mechanical safety for rotating equipment, containment, interlocks, and safe operating envelopes
