OpenAI is stepping up its push into physical machines, and it is paying well to do it. The ChatGPT-maker now lists 27 robotics openings on its careers page, up from 11 in May, according to a Business Insider report. Base salaries range from $177,000 to $500,000, with equity and bonuses on top.
A Wide Range of Roles
The openings span hardware, data collection, software and prototyping. A robotics software engineer in San Francisco, for instance, can earn $255,000 to $325,000 in base pay and must have at least five years of professional experience building robotics systems. Other postings include a lab technician to build and test robotic systems and an in-house lawyer dedicated to the robotics group. Benefits include a 401(k) with employer match, up to 24 weeks of paid parental leave and daily office meals.
The top-paying role, at up to $500,000, is a machine learning engineering position. It focuses on building infrastructure to process, store and move robotics training data across large computer networks. Unlike language models, robots cannot learn from text and images found online. They need real-world examples of people, objects and machines interacting, so one job asks a candidate to manage OpenAI’s data collection facilities.
Altman’s Robot Vision
Cornell professor Guy Hoffman told Business Insider the postings suggest OpenAI is creating a “custom robot design team.” The company is recruiting engineers to develop motors and mechanical systems that power movement.
CEO Sam Altman has been increasingly open about the shift. On the podcast Sources this month, he said OpenAI will “definitely do a humanoid” and explore other form factors. He pointed to data centers as a likely early use case, with robots helping operate and maintain AI infrastructure. Longer term, one job listing imagines a future where “everyone” has a personal robot doing anything they need.
For job seekers, the message is clear: OpenAI is treating robotics as a major long-term bet.