Component and Product Quality Engineer, Interconnects

About the Team

OpenAIs Hardware organization develops silicon and system-level solutions designed for the unique demands of advanced AI workloads. The team is responsible for building the next generation of AI-native silicon while working closely with software and research partners to co-design hardware tightly integrated with AI addition to delivering production-grade silicon for OpenAIs supercomputing infrastructure the team also creates custom design tools and methodologies that accelerate innovation and enable hardware optimized specifically for AI.

About the Role

OpenAIs Hardware organization builds supercompute platforms from silicon and boards to full rack-scale systems to power advanced AI workloads. This role owns end-to-end quality for high-speed interconnect hardware across the product lifecycle: early design influence supplier/contract manufacturer readiness qualification ramp and fleet quality in lab and data center environments.

You will be the quality lead for advanced interconnect components and assemblies including high-speed copper cables cable cartridges patch panels backplane/cable-backplane solutions high-speed connectors and related electro-mechanical interfaces. You will partner closely with electrical mechanical SI/PI systems reliability operations and external vendors to prevent escapes and drive rapid data-driven containment and corrective action.

In this role you will:

• Own quality for advanced interconnect components and assemblies: high-speed connectors high-speed copper cables cable cartridges (e.g. ultra-pass / cable cassette style assemblies) patch panels & optics and backplane/cable-backplane interconnect solutions.

• Drive quality-by-design: participate in design reviews DFM/DFx tolerance stacks material and plating selections connector mating strategy strain relief and assembly methods to reduce variation and field failures.

• Define and track quality and reliability metrics (DPPM yield escapes RMA/FRACAS trends Cpk/Ppk where applicable) for interconnects across NPI and mass production.

• Build and execute qualification strategies for cables/connectors/patch panels (mechanical environmental electrical and reliability) including test coverage sample plans clear pass/fail criteria defining installation criteria and processes optics termination quality management and setting fiber standards criteria.

• Partner with engineering and operations to drive smooth ramp: risk assessments pilot build learnings change control and readiness reviews (EVT/DVT/PVT/MP or equivalent phases).

• Own supplier and CM performance management: scorecards audits (process and quality system) and follow-up to close findings with verified effectiveness

• Work with suppliers to improve manufacturing throughput stability and yields for cable and connector assembly processes (e.g. wire prep welding/crimping overmolding/injection molding plating and assembly fixturing).

• Lead rapid containment and root-cause investigations for failures found during bring-up system integration tests reliability testing and fleet deployments.

• Own the end-to-end corrective action process (8D 5-Whys Ishikawa DOE as needed): define problem statements isolate variables validate root cause implement fixes and verify effectiveness.

• Partner with SI/PI and test teams to correlate electrical performance issues (e.g. link margin BER eye closure impedance discontinuities PAM4 TDR and VNA) with manufacturing and mechanical drivers (connector wear plating contamination misalignment cable routing assembly variation).

• Support integration and deployment of OpenAI supercompute racks in lab and data center environments; identify quality risks tied to shipping handling installation and service operations.

You might thrive in this role if you:

• 7 years of experience in quality engineering manufacturing quality supplier quality or reliability for interconnects or high-speed hardware used in servers networking storage or high-performance compute systems.

• Hands-on experience with high-speed copper interconnect products: connectors and/or cable assemblies; familiarity with patch panels or backplane/cable-backplane solutions is a plus

• Strong command of problem-solving and quality tools: 8D 5-Whys Fishbone PFMEA/control plans SPC/MSA (gauge R&R) and change control.

• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings GD&T basics and electrical/interface specifications; comfortable working across ME/EE/SI disciplines.

• Experience driving supplier/CM improvements (audits scorecards CAPA) and managing nonconformance/MRB workflows.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills; ability to drive alignment across internal teams and external partners.

• Experience with cable manufacturing and assembly processes (wire treatment resistance welding/laser welding crimping overmolding/injection molding braiding/shielding plating and automated test).

• Experience with optical interconnects (AOC/DAC pluggable modules such as QSFP/OSFP) fiber termination quality optical return loss end-face inspection standards (IEC 61300) and contamination control practices.

• Ability to travel internationally and work effectively across time zones with ODM/JDM and supplier partners.

To comply with U.S. export control laws and regulations candidates for this role may need to meet certain legal status requirements as provided in those laws and regulations.

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 the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core and to achieve our mission we must encompass and value the many different perspectives voices and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.

We are an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of race religion color national origin sex sexual orientation age veteran status disability genetic information or other applicable legally protected characteristic.

For additional information please see OpenAIs Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.

Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary confidential and non-public addition job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.

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Required Experience:

IC