Product Manufacturing Engineer - PCBA

About the Team OpenAI’s Hardware organization develops AI-native silicon and system-level solutions for the unique demands of advanced AI workloads. Building on efforts like Jalapeño, the team is developing future generations of AI-native silicon and tightly integrated systems to power the next generation of frontier models. By co-designing chips, systems, tools, and methodologies, the team helps deliver faster, more efficient, and production-ready hardware for OpenAI’s supercomputing platform. About the Role We’re looking for a Product Manufacturing Engineer to drive manufacturing strategy and execution for next-generation AI hardware within the Silicon & Systems team, with a particular focus on PCBA manufacturing, assembly, process development, and production readiness. You will work closely with design engineering, systems engineering, operations, TPMs, contract manufacturers, suppliers, and other external partners to ensure new hardware products successfully transition from concept and prototype builds through NPI and high-volume production. You’ll own critical manufacturing initiatives, identify and resolve production risks, and help establish the processes and controls required to deliver complex hardware at scale. This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees. In this role, you will: Drive manufacturing and quality initiatives to ensure product success from concept and early development through NPI, production launch, and scale. Lead manufacturing process development for next-generation AI hardware systems, partnering closely with design engineering, systems engineering, operations, TPMs, suppliers, and manufacturing partners. Own PCBA manufacturing development and production readiness, including assembly processes, process validation, manufacturing test, rework, yield improvement, and successful transition into volume production. Establish NPI manufacturing processes, systems, quality controls, milestones, and deliverables across internal teams and external manufacturing partners. Provide hands-on manufacturing engineering support during design, development, prototype, validation, and production phases. Partner with engineering teams to assess manufacturability, identify production risks, and incorporate manufacturing requirements early in the product development lifecycle. Drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions for manufacturing, assembly, test, yield, and quality issues. Research and develop manufacturing automation, test methodologies, tooling, and processes that improve quality, throughput, and efficiency. Develop and manage manufacturing requirements, schedules, readiness criteria, and deliverables across engineering teams, TPMs, suppliers, contract manufacturers, and other key stakeholders. Drive manufacturing readiness reviews and ensure products meet quality, reliability, yield, and production requirements before ramp. Communicate effectively across cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure successful execution of complex hardware programs. Perform risk assessment, mitigation, and change management throughout the product lifecycle. Manage multiple hardware programs and manufacturing workstreams simultaneously while ensuring critical milestones and standards are met. You might thrive in this role if you: Have a strong track record of taking complex hardware products from concept and prototype through NPI, production launch, and high-volume manufacturing. Have deep experience with PCBA manufacturing, assembly processes, manufacturing test, process development, yield, and quality. Are familiar with PCBA assembly and rework processes, component-level manufacturing considerations, and the equipment and processes required to manufacture complex, high-performance hardware. Have significant experience working with multinational JDMs, CMs, suppliers, and manufacturing partners to drive quality, schedule, and production readiness. Understand the manufacturing challenges associated with complex, high-density, high-power, and high-speed compute systems. Are comfortable partnering closely with electrical, mechanical, systems, test, reliability, operations, and supply chain teams throughout the hardware development lifecycle. Have experience driving development timelines for new platform introductions and managing manufacturing readiness and internal review processes. Are skilled at analyzing manufacturing and test data to identify issues, improve yield, and drive corrective actions. Enjoy solving difficult manufacturing problems and are comfortable getting hands-on during prototype builds, failure analysis, and production ramps. Are creative, detail-oriented, self-motivated, and comfortable operating in ambiguous and rapidly changing environments. To comply with U.S. export control laws and regulations, candidates for this role may need to meet certain legal status requiremen