Hardware Lab Manager

OpenAI; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 310,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative company is looking for a Hardware Lab Manager to lead the operations of their cutting-edge labs. This role involves overseeing lab planning, maintenance, and equipment management to support AI and machine learning systems. You'll collaborate with diverse teams to ensure optimal performance and compliance with safety standards while managing resources effectively. If you thrive in dynamic environments and are passionate about hardware and infrastructure, this opportunity offers a chance to shape the future of technology in a meaningful way.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience managing labs for hardware projects.
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment and thermal testing.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily lab operations, including planning and maintenance.
• Manage hardware inventories and coordinate logistical support.

Skills

Lab Management

Project Management

Thermal Testing

Cooling Strategies

Hardware Testing

Effective Communication

Problem Solving

Inventory Management

Tools

Cadence Allegro

Power Supplies

Analyzers

Job description

About the Team:

The Scaling team is responsible for designing the infrastructure that powers cutting-edge AI, spanning everything from workload modeling to system-level optimization. We work closely with partners to co-design systems and data centers, and are looking for engineers to help craft solutions for AI workloads in high-performance computing environments.

This team collaborates with external partners to evaluate and optimize hardware platforms, identify promising new accelerators, and bring hardware systems into production environments.

If you're excited to work at the intersection of deep learning, hardware systems, and infrastructure design, this role is for you!

About the Role:

We're seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Hardware Lab Manager to join our dynamic Compute team. As a Hardware Lab Manager, you will contribute to hardware infrastructure projects that support AI and machine learning systems, helping design and manage lab environments that enable development and testing for future deployments.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the daily operations of hardware labs, including: Lab planning, construction, and commissioning, Planning for future lab expansions, Managing facilities infrastructure to ensure proper setup, maintenance, and equipment support for hardware development and validation

• You will bring a strong understanding of hardware systems, project management skills, and the ability to coordinate across teams to ensure efficient lab operations.

• Overseeing thermal, power, and cabling infrastructure to ensure test environments are configured for optimal system performance

• Maintaining lab equipment and hardware systems, including test instruments and cooling systems. Ensuring equipment is calibrated and functional, and coordinating maintenance or upgrades

• Managing hardware and material inventories, and working with procurement teams to source lab supplies and equipment

• Acting as the primary point of contact for hardware teams, coordinating logistical support for testing, prototyping, automation, and system integration activities

• Managing a training program for lab users and ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards

• Maintaining clear records of lab activities, test procedures, and outcomes, and communicating status updates to stakeholders

• Optimizing lab utilization through scheduling and coordination of test plans

• Managing forecasting for lab operations and improvement budgets as needed

You might thrive in this role if you:

• Have at least 10 years of industry experience, including work in or managing labs supporting hardware and infrastructure projects

• Bring hands-on experience with lab equipment such as power supplies, analyzers, and other test tools

• Have strong knowledge of thermal testing methodologies and cooling strategies (e.g., liquid cooling, heat exchangers)

• Are experienced with thermal evaluation tools and testing techniques for hardware development

• Have familiarity with rework and layout tools such as Cadence Allegro

• Possess a strong bias toward action and a drive to overcome obstacles

• Have experience with hardware system testing across multiple integration levels

• Are a fast learner and effective communicator who can share knowledge clearly with others

• Are comfortable navigating ambiguity in rapidly evolving environments

• Understand building-level infrastructure systems, including cooling and power distribution systems

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

OpenAI Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement

For US Based Candidates: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.

OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy

At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

Compensation Range: $180K - $310K