OpenAI Robotics Test Engineer at OpenAI designs and executes rigorous tests for robotic systems to drive design improvements and mitigate risks. Build custom test equipment and analyze data to validate mechanical performance.
Responsibilities
As a Test Engineer on the Robotics team, you will help shape the next generation of embodied AI. You’ll design and run rigorous, exploratory and requirements-driven tests—building custom test equipment, analyzing results, and translating findings into actionable insights that drive design breakthroughs and mitigate risks across hardware and software. This role offers the opportunity to directly influence how our AI scales beyond simulation, ensuring that every design, test, and iteration brings us closer to truly adaptive, versatile robotic systems.
Design and build custom test benches to evaluate system performance under realistic operating conditions; proficient in CAD and familiar with GD&T.
Analyze and interpret test data to identify trends, anomalies, and root causes.
Develop and maintain comprehensive test plans that validate mechanical performance against product requirements.
Execute validation and verification testing, capturing both quantitative and qualitative data with high fidelity.
Author clear, actionable test reports that summarize results, highlight risks, and recommend design or process changes.
Partner with engineering, product, and leadership teams to inform design iterations and strategic decisions.
Design and execute compliance and regulatory testing campaigns, informing in-house vs 3rd party testing strategy
You might thrive in this role if you:
Have strong intuition for mechanical and electromechanical systems and how they fail, degrade, or vary in real-world operation.
Enjoy hands-on lab work designing, instrumenting, operating, and debugging test equipment and robotic hardware.
Can turn evolving requirements and ambiguous failures into repeatable tests, trustworthy data, and clear engineering decisions.
Qualification
Hands-on experience integrating sensorsExperience designing reliabilityExperience supporting EVTExperience using root cause analysis
Required
7+ years experience in hardware testing or validation
2+ years experience with robotics hardware components and systems
Bachelor’s or graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or related field
Experience designing test fixtures and stands using CAD, engineering drawings, and GD&T
Hands-on experience integrating sensors, instrumentation, and data acquisition
Preferred
7+ years of experience in hardware testing or validation, including at least 2 years working with robotics hardware components and systems.
Bachelor’s or graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Experience designing test fixtures and stands using CAD, engineering drawings, and GD&T.
Hands-on experience integrating sensors, instrumentation, and data acquisition (DAQ) systems, including calibration and measurement traceability.
Experience developing automated or hardware-in-the-loop tests using Python, C/C++, or AI coding tools for test execution, data collection, and analysis.
Experience designing reliability, accelerated life, environmental, and hardware qualification tests for robotic or electromechanical systems.
Experience supporting EVT, DVT, PVT, pilot production, or sustaining hardware validation.
Experience using root cause analysis, FMEA, or FEA to guide design improvements.
