Technical Program Manager — Actuator Systems, Robotics

OpenAI; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 207,000 - 285,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI in San Francisco, CA is seeking a Technical Program Manager to own actuator development from goals to production readiness. The role spans mechanical, electrical, firmware, harnessing, controls, test, reliability, manufacturing, and supply chain, turning cross-functional decisions into clear scope and milestones.

You will converge on the right technical plan, surface risks early, and deliver reliable actuator systems on schedule. This in-person role requires presence 4 days a week in SF.

Responsibilities

• Drive actuator programs end-to-end, aligning scope, milestones, interfaces, dependencies, and exit criteria across engineering teams.
• Drive scope lock and technical convergence for sprints, MVPs, and stretch goals while connecting component decisions to system performance.
• Coordinate actuator development across motors, gears, sensing, electronics, and firmware, and align the electrical and mechanical interfaces that connect actuators to the broader robot.
• Lead validation planning from early prototypes through engineering validation, reliability testing, and production readiness.
• Drive tradeoff decisions across cost, quality, performance, schedule, and lead time by collaborating cross-functionally and quantifying impact to meet program deliverables.
• Establish effective mechanisms for technical reviews, change control, design releases, decision tracking, and manufacturing readiness.
• Surface risks early and drive decisions, owners, and actions to closure.

Job description

OpenAI in San Francisco, CA is seeking a Technical Program Manager to own actuator development from goals to production readiness. The role spans mechanical, electrical, firmware, harnessing, controls, test, reliability, manufacturing, and supply chain, turning cross-functional decisions into clear scope and milestones.

You will converge on the right technical plan, surface risks early, and deliver reliable actuator systems on schedule. This in-person role requires presence 4 days a week in SF.