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OpenAI's Robotics team is seeking a Technical Program Manager to drive the development, prototyping, and integration of innovative hardware solutions for data collection and robotic systems. This role bridges AI research with physical systems, working across the full model and systems stack to explore diverse robotic form factors.
You will own functional requirements for end effector sub-systems, sensing technologies, and hardware integration pipelines. Key responsibilities include:
- Define and drive functional requirements for end effector sub-systems, sensing technologies, and data collection hardware, including milestones and validation criteria
- Collaborate with research teams to align system-level integration requirements, calibration needs, and test configurations
- Partner with operations to deploy data collection hardware, monitor field failures, and coordinate stakeholder resolution
- Coordinate design and integration of tactile sensing materials, mechanical structures, PCBAs, interconnects, harnesses, and signal paths into robotic systems
- Establish effective design review processes, documentation readiness, change control, design releases, and production-readiness mechanisms
- Work with manufacturing, test, and supply chain teams on prototype builds, assembly constraints, DFM/DFA, end-of-line test requirements, and transition to production
- Drive cross-functional tradeoff decisions on material selection, mechanical performance, functionality, reliability, scaling, cost, quality, schedule, and lead time
Success means functional requirements and performance targets are aligned across teams; fit, alignment, bonding, signal integrity, EMI, calibration, and reliability risks are surfaced early and resolved; design reviews and documentation processes operate effectively; prototypes transition smoothly to manufacturable assemblies; and supply chain risks are well managed with clear scope for each phase.
The role requires 4 days per week in-person presence in San Francisco.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Understanding of material properties, compliance, bonding, packaging, tolerances, and integration constraints affecting tactile sensor performance in robotic systems
- Experience integrating PCBAs, interconnects, small form factor connectors, analog signals, and EMI-sensitive hardware into compact mechanical assemblies
- Comfort with hands-on work including planning, building, testing, and debugging physical systems; characterization and validation setups; calibration; durability analysis; and failure mode investigation
- Track record leading complex electromechanical hardware programs from evolving requirements through prototype builds and manufacturing
- Understanding of data collection hardware deliverables, ability to manage expectations and iterate rapidly, and judgment to make decisions without waiting for consensus from large meetings
