# Actuator Electromagnetic Design Engineer

**Company:** [OpenAI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/openai)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Salary:** $266k – $380k/yr
**Experience:** 5+ years
**Skills:** electromagnetic systems, robotic actuators, electric motors, transmissions, bearings, encoders, thermal management, CAD, Nx, teamcenter, reliability testing, failure analysis, DFM, dfa, plm
**Posted:** 2026-08-08

> Leads architecture, electromagnetic design, integration, and validation of custom robotic actuators from concept through production readiness. The role requires 5+ years of relevant hardware experience, strong electromechanical systems knowledge, and hands-on prototyping and testing.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Lead the architecture, design, and integration of custom robotic actuators, including custom electromagnetic components.
- Define actuator requirements and system-level trade studies covering torque density, bandwidth, efficiency, thermal performance, inertia, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
- Design precision electromechanical assemblies with attention to tolerances, alignment, load paths, thermal expansion, sealing, wear, and serviceability.
- Drive actuator integration into robotic systems in partnership with controls, firmware, electrical, and robotics software teams.
- Develop architectures with integrated sensing and encoder strategies.
- Build and validate prototypes through hands-on bring-up, debugging, characterization, and iterative refinement.
- Develop test methodologies and characterization infrastructure for performance, reliability, durability, and failure analysis.
- Analyze test data to identify limitations, failure modes, and design improvements.
- Collaborate with manufacturing and suppliers to transition prototypes to scalable production assemblies.
- Support DFM, DFA, DFT, calibration, and assembly strategies for electromechanical subsystems.
- Contribute to actuator sourcing, vendor qualification, prototype builds, and supply-chain development.
- Document designs, interfaces, validation results, and engineering decisions.
- Establish engineering standards, integration practices, and development workflows for robotic platforms.

## Requirements
- Bachelor's or graduate degree in Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience designing electromagnetic systems, robotic actuators, or precision mechatronic hardware.
- Experience developing actuators for robotics, automation, aerospace, automotive, or other high-performance dynamic systems.
- Strong understanding of motors, transmissions, bearings, encoders, structural design, thermal management, and precision mechanical integration.
- Familiarity with actuator sensing architectures, encoder integration, and calibration strategies.
- Experience designing for prototype and production processes, including machining, casting, molding, and assembly.
- Proficiency with CAD and PLM tools such as NX and Teamcenter or equivalent systems.
- Experience developing validation plans, reliability testing, and failure-analysis workflows.

## Nice to Have
- Experience scaling hardware from prototype through EVT, DVT, and PVT into production.

## Compensation
- Annual salary range: $266,000–$380,000.

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