# Prototyping Lab Technician, Robotics

**Company:** [OpenAI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/openai)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Salary:** $225k – $295k/yr
**Skills:** Electromechanical Systems, Robotics, Electrical Troubleshooting, Wire Harnesses, Schematics, Mechanical Drawings, Linux, Prototype Fabrication, Test Equipment, Hardware Debugging
**Posted:** 2026-06-24

> Hands-on technician building, testing, and iterating on robotic hardware prototypes in a fast-paced lab environment. Requires strong electromechanical troubleshooting, fabrication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Partner closely with engineers, researchers, and other members of the robotics team to support prototype development, experimentation, and hardware iteration.
- Build, modify, troubleshoot, and repair robotic systems and electromechanical assemblies spanning structural, electrical, sensing, and actuation subsystems.
- Design and fabricate fixtures, adapters, test equipment, and other prototype hardware that accelerate development efforts.
- Execute low-volume builds, engineering changes, and rework activities across robotic systems, including mechanical assemblies, wire harnesses, and custom electronics.
- Develop, execute, and support hardware experiments in partnership with engineering teams.
- Build and rework wire harnesses, custom electronics, and other prototype hardware used in robotic systems.
- Maintain lab equipment, tooling, inventory, and workspaces.
- Develop and refine processes that improve build quality, repeatability, documentation, and overall lab efficiency.
- Use software tools to configure hardware, collect data, document work, and interact with robotic systems.
- Identify technical risks, challenge assumptions when appropriate, and provide feedback that improves hardware reliability, manufacturability, and experimental quality.

## Requirements
- Demonstrated experience working hands-on with complex electromechanical or robotic systems.
- Highly effective at troubleshooting electrical systems and using common electronic test equipment.
- Comfortable interpreting schematics, wiring diagrams, mechanical drawings, and technical documentation.
- Experience building, modifying, and debugging wire harnesses, custom electronics, and assemblies.
- Excellent technical communicator who collaborates effectively across disciplines.
- Comfortable working with the Linux command line.
- Comfortable learning unfamiliar tools, equipment, and technologies as projects evolve.
- Thrive in fast-paced environments with a wide variety of projects and responsibilities.

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**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/dbcc6603-0989-4a27-9fbc-972420c6f732
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