Manufacturing Quality Engineer, Data Center Equipment

OpenAI is hiring a Manufacturing Quality Engineer to oversee the quality of data center equipment at supplier factories. The role monitors manufacturing, audits and tests equipment, coordinates supplier issue resolution, and manages quality requirements and deviations across suppliers and project sites.

Responsibilities:

• Manufacturing monitoring: Work with Manufacturing Operations to monitor production progress, quality controls, inspection results, and test readiness. Flag emerging risks and coordinate a response with suppliers
• Product and process audits: Audit products and processes during and after production against engineering requirements, critical-to-quality (CTQ) characteristics, approved procedures, and quality standards. Document findings and track corrective actions to closure
• Manufacturing coordination: Agree on production checkpoints and inspection and testing requirements with suppliers, engineering, sourcing, supply chain, commissioning, and quality teams. Escalate risks to equipment acceptance or delivery
• Manufacturing scorecards: Develop supplier and product scorecards with Manufacturing Operations. Review audit findings, test results, recurring defects, and open issues with suppliers to prioritize improvements
• Drive continuous improvement: Lead the CLL process with suppliers. Track root cause analyses and corrective and preventive actions in a shared register. Verify that each action addresses the underlying problem before closing it
• Standardize requirements and formats: Develop product-specific FAT requirements and standard test formats with equipment suppliers and OpenAI’s engineering, commissioning, quality, and Manufacturing Operations teams
• Define critical quality requirements: Document the CTQ characteristics each test must verify in an OpenAI-accepted format. Use CLL findings to revise FAT procedures so future tests check for known failure modes
• Ensure auditable supplier records: Require suppliers to retain test results and make them available for OpenAI audits
• Manage documentation and revision control: Review final FAT records and audit reports for each piece of equipment and maintain a controlled revision history
• Conduct periodic supplier audits: Check that suppliers follow approved test procedures and that their records accurately reflect the tests performed
• Align checklists and stakeholders: Develop standard FWT checklists with OpenAI subject matter experts, installing contractors, and the construction management team. Agree on requirements before testing begins
• Manage documentation and reporting: Collect and review final witness test reports and supporting records from participants
• Before shipment, confirm that each witness-test issue is resolved or covered by a documented deviation. Log systemic, recurring, or safety-related findings in the CLL tracker and verify the effectiveness of corrective actions with the supplier
• Assess short shipments and missing or failed tests in partnership with Manufacturing Operations
• Coordinate supplier support to resolve issues at the project site
• Document each deviation and track the agreed actions through closure

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or industrial engineering
• At least 10 years of data center industry experience spanning quality engineering and project management
• Experience coordinating FAT and FWT with suppliers and resolving equipment quality issues
• Ability to develop test checklists, define CTQs, review test results, and maintain auditable quality records
• Experience monitoring supplier production, auditing products and processes during and after production, and using scorecards to improve supplier and product quality
• Experience managing controlled documents and deviations
• Ability to coordinate supplier schedules and plan inspections and tests across multiple pieces of equipment
• Ability to communicate quality requirements and coordinate decisions across suppliers, engineering, commissioning, sourcing, supply chain, manufacturing, operations, quality, and construction teams
• Technical knowledge of data center infrastructure, including mechanical, electrical, and controls systems
• Experience in supplier performance management for mission-critical facilities
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Quality Manager, or Quality Auditor
• PMP or equivalent project management certification
• Experience in industrial or high-volume manufacturing environments