OpenAI

Mechanical Engineer, Hardware Systems

OpenAI$130K — $155K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field; Master's preferred.
  • 7+ years of industry experience in mechanical design and validation for IT hardware.
  • Proficiency in CAD tools and Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
  • Strong understanding of mechanical design principles and manufacturing methods.
  • Ability to analyze data and implement corrective actions on mechanical issues.
  • Strong problem-solving skills with first-principles calculations experience.
  • Self-driven and detail-oriented with collaborative skills.

Responsibilities

  • Lead mechanical design for AI supercomputer applications in data centers.
  • Collaborate to design and optimize thermal solutions for hardware components.
  • Integrate thermal management strategies into hardware design from concept to production.
  • Design and validate mechanical systems such as chassis and cooling systems.
  • Perform modeling, FEA, and prototyping to ensure manufacturability.
  • Conduct mechanical testing for reliability under extreme conditions.
  • Identify new technologies to enhance mechanical design and performance.

Benefits

  • Relocation assistance for new employees.
  • Hybrid work model of three days in the office per week.
Full Job Description
About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Mechanical Engineer with 7+ years of experience in design of IT hardware from chip/package to system levels. You'll work alongside experts in thermal, mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering to support the design, analysis, and validation of mechanical and thermal systems that ensure the reliability, efficiency, and longevity of mission-critical hardware. This position requires strong analytical skills, hands-on testing experience, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-disciplinary environment.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

In this role, you will:
  • 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
You might thrive in this role if you:
  • 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
  • Practical experience in co-developing advanced cooling technologies
  • Deep understanding of reliability testing, failure analysis, and thermal stress modeling and testing for electronic components
  • Experience working with suppliers and manufacturing partners to support new technology development and production ramp-up


About OpenAI

OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research laboratory consisting of the for-profit corporation OpenAI LP and its parent company, the non-profit OpenAI Inc. The company was founded in 2015 by a group of technology leaders, including Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and John Schulman. OpenAI's mission is to develop and promote friendly AI for the betterment of humanity. The company has developed a number of cutting-edge AI technologies, including GPT-3, a language processing system that can generate human-like text. OpenAI has received funding from a number of high-profile investors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and venture capitalist Peter Thiel.
Learn more about OpenAI
Size
100 employees
Industry
Founded
2015

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