Firmware Engineer, Robotics

Details

Our Robotics team is focused on unlocking general-purpose robotics and advancing toward AGI-level intelligence in dynamic, real-world environments. Working across the full model and systems stack, we integrate cutting-edge hardware and software to explore a broad range of robotic form factors. We strive to seamlessly blend high-level AI capabilities with the physical constraints of real-world systems to improve people’s lives.

As a Firmware Engineer on the Robotics team, you will help enable the next generation of embodied AI by developing low-level firmware that drives our robotic systems. You will join at an early phase of our firmware development, working alongside electrical, mechanical, and control systems engineers to bring up new boards, integrate novel sensors, and build foundational infrastructure for the distributed system that drives our robots.

This role is hands-on and bare-metal focused. You will read datasheets and reference manuals, write startup code and peripheral drivers, and debug hardware–firmware interactions during board bring-up and deployment. Your work will span everything from simple single-purpose sensing devices to more complex, safety- and reliability-critical subsystems, with an emphasis on correctness, performance, and scalability.

By working closely across disciplines, you will help ensure that firmware, hardware, and system-level assumptions align, and that new designs can be brought up, tested, and iterated on quickly. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the early firmware architecture for advanced robotic systems operating in real-world environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop low-level firmware for microcontrollers and embedded devices (startup code, peripheral drivers, bootloaders).
• Bring up new circuit boards and integrate novel sensors and peripherals.
• Read and interpret datasheets, reference manuals, and schematics to implement and validate firmware.
• Debug hardware–firmware interactions in lab environments using measurement and debug tools.
• Build testbenches, tooling, and test-driven workflows to validate hardware and firmware behavior.
• Collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, and control systems engineers to ensure system-level correctness, performance, and scalability.

Requirements

• Hands-on experience developing firmware for microcontrollers and embedded systems.
• Comfortable writing bare-metal firmware and working with startup code, peripheral drivers, and bootloaders.
• Regularly read datasheets and reference manuals to understand hardware behavior.
• Experience with board bring-up, lab debugging, or early hardware validation.
• Familiarity with hardware debugging tools and measurement equipment.
• Strong debugging skills and curiosity about hardware/software failure modes.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills for cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with embedded communication protocols (SPI, I²C, UART, CAN, Ethernet, BiSS).
• Experience writing C++ or Rust for microcontrollers, especially in resource-constrained or bare-metal environments.
• Familiarity with JTAG/SWD, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, or similar lab equipment.
• Experience with robotics, sensing systems, or data acquisition and other hardware-centric products.

Benefits

• Base pay range: $185,000 – $268,000 (varies by location and experience). In addition: equity, performance-related bonuses (where eligible), and generous benefits.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Paid parental leave and paid medical/caregiver leave.
• Flexible PTO and paid company holidays/office closures.
• Mental health and wellness support; employer-paid basic life and disability coverage.
• Annual learning and development stipend, daily meals in offices, meal delivery credits, and other fringe benefits.
• Relocation support for eligible employees.

Location and Schedule

• This role is based in San Francisco, CA (United States).
• Requires in-person presence four days a week (hybrid schedule).

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 AI capabilities and seek to safely deploy them through our products. We are an equal opportunity employer and provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.