OpenAI expands robotics push with high-salary engineering roles

OpenAI is significantly expanding its robotics division, offering base salaries of up to $500,000 for specialized engineering roles. The company has increased its robotics-related job listings from 11 in May to 27, signaling an accelerated push into ‘physical AI’—the integration of advanced AI models with machines capable of interacting with the real world.

The recruitment drive covers a broad spectrum of expertise, including hardware development, software engineering, machine learning, firmware, prototyping, and actuator design. Notably, the company is seeking engineers to develop the motors and mechanisms for robotic joints, as well as lab technicians to iterate on physical systems.

A key component of OpenAI’s strategy involves large-scale data collection. Unlike large language models that rely on existing internet text, robotics requires specialized data from physical interactions, such as humans performing tasks or machines manipulating objects. To support this, OpenAI is hiring personnel to oversee data collection facilities and even a lawyer dedicated specifically to the robotics team.