Mechanical Engineer, Hardware Systems at OpenAI

San Francisco, California, United States

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$310,000 – $460,000Compensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

AI, Hardware, SemiconductorsIndustries

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (Master’s preferred)
7+ years of industry experience in mechanical design, simulation, and validation for IT hardware
Proficiency in CAD tools and FEA
Strong understanding of mechanical design, material properties, manufacturing methods, and test procedures
Ability to analyze experimental data, identify root causes of mechanical or manufacturing issues, and implement corrective actions
Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to perform first-principles calculations to support design decisions
Self-driven, detail-oriented, and able to work independently or collaboratively in cross-functional engineering environments
Preferred Skills
10+ years of industry experience in mechanical design, simulation, and validation for IT hardware
Extensive experience with data center hardware or high-performance computing systems at scale

Responsibilities

Lead mechanical design for AI supercomputer product in the data center application
Collaborate with the cross functional team to design and optimize thermal solutions for data center hardware, including chips, power modules, and system-level cooling architectures
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate thermal management strategies into hardware design, from concept to mass production
Design and validate mechanical systems, including chassis, enclosures, cooling systems, and high-power connections, ensuring alignment with performance and reliability standards
Perform 3D modeling, FEA, tolerance analysis, and prototyping, ensuring manufacturability and adherence to strict quality requirements
Conduct mechanical testing, including vibration, shock, and thermal cycling, to ensure long-term reliability under extreme operating conditions
Identify and evaluate new technologies and methodologies to improve mechanical and thermal performance in product design, and contribute to the development of new products and technology by providing expertise in mechanical design
Develop appropriate specifications and test procedures as necessary to ensure desired reliability and performance of electronic equipment
Collaborate, supervise, mentor, and motivate suppliers to design and develop excellent products, and mentor engineers in all aspects of concept development, analysis, design, and specification
Lead the production and launch of new products and technologies and ensure compliance with relevant quality standards and regulation
Partner with suppliers and manufacturers to support the development of custom mechanical and thermal components and ensure quality in production

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Mechanical DesignThermal Management3D ModelingFEATolerance AnalysisIT Hardware DesignChassis DesignCooling SystemsData Center HardwarePrototyping

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for this Mechanical Engineer position?

The salary range is $310K - $460K.

Is this role remote or based in an office?

This role is based in San Francisco, CA, with a hybrid work model requiring 3 days in the office per week. OpenAI offers relocation assistance to new employees.

What skills and experience are required for this Mechanical Engineer role?

Candidates need 7+ years of experience in design of IT hardware from chip/package to system levels, strong analytical skills, hands-on testing experience, and proficiency in 3D modeling, FEA, tolerance analysis, prototyping, and mechanical testing including vibration, shock, and thermal cycling.

What is the team like at OpenAI's Hardware organization?

The Hardware team develops silicon and system-level solutions for advanced AI workloads, working closely with software and research partners to co-design hardware integrated with AI models, and creates custom design tools for AI-optimized hardware.

What makes a strong candidate for this Mechanical Engineer position?

A strong candidate has 7+ years in IT hardware design across chip to system levels, experience leading mechanical design for data center applications, expertise in thermal solutions, FEA, prototyping, testing, and the ability to collaborate in a fast-paced, cross-disciplinary environment while mentoring teams and suppliers.

OpenAI

Develops safe and beneficial AI technologies

About OpenAI

OpenAI develops and deploys artificial intelligence technologies aimed at benefiting humanity. The company creates advanced AI models capable of performing various tasks, such as automating processes and enhancing creativity. OpenAI's products, like Sora, allow users to generate videos from text descriptions, showcasing the versatility of its AI applications. Unlike many competitors, OpenAI operates under a capped profit model, which limits the profits it can make and ensures that excess earnings are redistributed to maximize the social benefits of AI. This commitment to safety and ethical considerations is central to its mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) serves all of humanity.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2015Year Founded

$18,433.2MTotal Funding

LATE_VCCompany Stage

AI & Machine LearningIndustries

1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

Health insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Flexible spending account for healthcare and dependent care

Mental healthcare service

Fertility treatment coverage

401(k) with generous matching

20-week paid parental leave

Life insurance (complimentary)

AD&D insurance (complimentary)

Short-term/long-term disability insurance (complimentary)

Optional buy-up life insurance

Flexible work hours and unlimited paid time off (we encourage 4+ weeks per year)

Annual learning & development stipend

Regular team happy hours and outings

Daily catered lunch and dinner

Travel to domestic conferences

Risks

Elon Musk's legal battle may pose financial and reputational challenges for OpenAI.

Customizable ChatGPT personas could lead to privacy and ethical concerns.

Competitors like Anthropic raising capital may intensify market competition.

Differentiation

OpenAI's capped profit model prioritizes ethical AI development over unlimited profit.

OpenAI's AI models, like Sora, offer unique video creation from text descriptions.

OpenAI's focus on AGI aims to create AI systems smarter than humans.

Upsides

OpenAI's $6.6 billion funding boosts its AI research and computational capacity.

Customizable ChatGPT personas enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

OpenAI's 'Operator' AI agent could revolutionize workforce automation by 2025.

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