Sensor Test Development Engineer (San Francisco)

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented engineer to design, develop, and manage automated test stations for motion sensing and environmental sensing components. In this role, you will translate product requirements into robust, high-throughput test systems that ensure the performance, accuracy, and reliability of sensors such as IMUs, magnetometers, ambient light sensors and related modules.

You will serve as the primary technical lead for these test systems-defining specifications, coordinating with cross-functional teams, overseeing build and deployment, and maintaining station readiness throughout the product lifecycle.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. This role is fully onsite 5 days in office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

In this role, you will:

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test systems for motion and environmental sensors (IMU, magnetometer, ALS, proximity).

• Define test requirements, measurement metrics and calibration procedures.

• Implement precision motion, optical and electromagnetic stimulus systems.

• Develop and maintain test algorithms, data acquisition and control software.

• Collaborate with product, reliability, and manufacturing teams to align capabilities with requirements.

• Support factory deployment, CM training, and troubleshooting.

• Ensure measurement accuracy, traceability, and compliance with quality standards.

You might thrive in this role if you:

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Physics, or related field.

• 10+ years of experience in sensor test development, with hands-on expertise in motion sensors (IMU, magnetometer) and optical sensors (ALS, proximity).

• Proficiency in Python, C/C++ or equivalent for automated test development, and experience with DAQ systems.

• Strong understanding of sensor error models, calibration methods, and environmental compensation techniques.

• Experience with precision motion systems, light sources, and electromagnetic field generation for test applications.

• Hands-on experience with root cause analysis and cross-functional issue resolution

• Strong communication skills and ability to work with vendors and contract manufacturers

• Willingness to travel up to 25% for factory support, station deployment, and troubleshooting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience deploying test systems in high-volume manufacturing environments.

• Knowledge of statistical process control, GR&R, and measurement system analysis.

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 we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.

For additional information, please see OpenAI's Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement .

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.

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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: $380K - $460K