Product Designer, Physical Engineering

Details

About the Team

The Physical Engineering team sits within OpenAI’s Enterprise Verticals organization. The team is exploring how frontier AI can help people design, simulate, and build better physical products by shortening development cycles, improving product performance, and expanding what engineering teams can accomplish.

The team is building experiences within ChatGPT and integrations with tools such as CAD, eCAD, CAE, and simulation software to support engineers from early concepts through design, validation, and preparation for production. It operates as a small founding team, working directly with customers and closely with research, product, data science, and forward-deployed engineering.

About the Role

This is a hands-on, zero-to-one role as the first dedicated designer on the Physical Engineering team. The designer will help define the product area from its earliest stages, shaping what is built, how it works, and how design operates within the team.

The role involves working deeply with engineers and customers to understand complex technical workflows, identify valuable opportunities, and turn emerging AI capabilities into intuitive, trustworthy products. Responsibilities span product strategy, interaction design, prototyping, research, and detailed execution, often requiring decisions with incomplete information.

The initial focus may be Physical Engineering, with potential to extend across Enterprise Verticals as the design function grows. This role is based at the San Francisco headquarters. Relocation assistance is available to eligible employees.

Responsibilities

• Define the product and design vision for AI-powered physical-engineering experiences.
• Lead design from customer discovery and early prototyping through detailed execution, launch, and iteration.
• Create intuitive interfaces that help engineers understand, inspect, and refine complex designs, simulations, and model outputs.
• Work directly with mechanical, electrical, and other physical engineers to understand their tools, constraints, and workflows.
• Partner with product, engineering, research, data science, and forward-deployed teams to translate emerging AI capabilities into practical products.
• Prototype new interaction models for visual, spatial, and technically complex work.
• Balance speed and exploration with a high bar for interaction design, visual craft, reliability, and user trust.
• Establish foundational design patterns and practices that can scale across Physical Engineering and other enterprise verticals.
• Operate independently, identify high-leverage opportunities, and bring clarity to an early and ambiguous product space.

Requirements

• Experience independently leading substantial zero-to-one products from early exploration through launch.
• Exceptional product judgment, interaction design, and visual craft for complex professional software.
• High autonomy and comfort defining both the problem and the path forward.
• Ability to work directly with highly technical users and translate specialized workflows into clear product experiences.
• Ability to move between long-term vision, systems thinking, rapid prototyping, and detailed execution.
• Ability to build alignment through compelling prototypes, clear narratives, and close cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to develop sufficient technical depth to make thoughtful design decisions in unfamiliar domains.
• Relevant experience may include designing CAD, CAE, eCAD, simulation, chip-design, manufacturing, or other engineering software; building interactive tools for visual, spatial, data-intensive, or technically complex workflows; designing professional or enterprise products that integrate with established tools and systems; working as a founding or early startup designer; and designing AI-powered products whose outputs are understandable, useful, and reliable.

Benefits

• Base salary range of $245,000–$310,000 per year.
• Equity and performance-related bonuses for eligible employees.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts for health, dependent care, and commuter expenses.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid parental, medical, and caregiver leave.
• Paid time off, paid company holidays, office closures, and sick or safe time as required by law.
• Mental health and wellness support.
• Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage.
• Annual learning and development stipend.
• Daily office meals and eligible meal delivery credits.
• Relocation support for eligible employees.
• Additional benefits may include charitable donation matching and wellness stipends.