OpenAI· Robotics· San Francisco
Operations Manager, Data Acquisition
Comp$251K – $285K
Classified Tasks (23)
Automate 0%Augment 30%Human-Only 70%
Augment (7)
AI assists, human decides
Drive step-function improvements in throughput, reliability, and data quality
analytical
Push real-world operational feedback upstream to shape engineering and research decisions
communication
Ensure workforce readiness keeps pace with changing station workflows and programs
operational
Own readiness of materials, consumables, and station inputs required for continuous execution
operational
Surface issues early, drive fast resolution, and prevent recurrence through system fixes
operational
Define and enforce repeatable operating standards across sites
operational
Maintain tight communication across engineering, research, and operations as systems evolve
communication
Human-Only (16)
Requires human judgment
Own the end-to-end system that enables robotics data collection across stations, workforce, and facilities
operational
Ensure robotics fleet, station software, workforce execution, and infrastructure operate as a single, reliable system
operational
Set operating rhythms, decision frameworks, and escalation paths to keep execution unblocked
leadership
Act as the single point of operational alignment across robotics research, engineering, and operations
leadership
Force clarity on priorities, readiness, and constraints to keep deployments moving
leadership
Ensure new platforms, workflows, and capabilities land cleanly into operations
operational
Own execution of the managed workforce model through a services partner
operational
Set expectations, metrics, and escalation paths with vendor leadership
leadership
Hold partners accountable to performance, throughput, and quality outcomes
operational
Ensure tight coordination across fleet reliability, station software, and operational infrastructure
operational
Own expansion of DAQ operations across sites
leadership
Build site leadership structure and coordination mechanisms that scale with growth
leadership
Ensure consistent execution as complexity and footprint increase
operational
Create clarity across senior stakeholders when priorities, timelines, and constraints conflict
leadership
Make tradeoffs explicit and drive decisions to keep execution moving
leadership
Make the DAQ system operate cohesively, scale across sites, and continuously improve as robotics capabilities evolve
operational
Job description
Operations Manager, Data Acquisition | OpenAI Careers ## Operations Manager, Data Acquisition Robotics - San Francisco Apply now(opens in a new window) **About the Team** Our Robotics team is focused on unlocking general-purpose robotics and advancing toward AGI-level intelligence in dynamic, real-world environments. Working across the full model and systems stack, we integrate cutting-edge hardware and software to explore a broad range of robotic form factors. We strive to seamlessly blend high-level AI capabilities with the physical constraints of real-world systems to improve people’s lives. **About the Role** We are seeking a Leader, DAQ Operations to own and scale the system that enables robotics data collection across OpenAI’s robotics program. This system spans our robotic stations, a large managed workforce, and facilities, while engineering and research teams continuously evolve the platforms and workflows running on top. You will sit at the center of this system, ensuring alignment across research, engineering, operations, and external partners so data collection runs reliably at scale. This is a single-threaded ownership role—responsible for making the system operate cohesively, scale across sites, and continuously improve as robotics capabilities evolve. Success in this role requires strong cross-domain leadership and coordination across senior stakeholders, including robotics engineering, software teams, research leaders, operations teams, and external service partners. **In this role, you will:** **Own the DAQ Operating System:** * Own the end-to-end system that enables robotics data collection across stations, workforce, and facilities * Ensure robotics fleet, station software, workforce execution, and infrastructure operate as a single, reliable system * Set operating rhythms, decision frameworks, and escalation paths that keep execution unblocked * Drive step-function improvements in throughput, reliability, and data quality **Drive Cross-Functional Execution:** * Act as the single point of operational alignment across robotics research, engineering, and operations * Force clarity on priorities, readiness, and constraints to keep deployments moving * Ensure new platforms, workflows, and capabilities land cleanly into operations * Push real-world operational feedback upstream to shape engineering and research decisions **Own Workforce & Vendor Performance:** * Own execution of the managed workforce model through a services partner * Set expectations, metrics, and escalation paths with vendor leadership * Ensure workforce readiness keeps pace with changing station workflows and programs * Hold partners accountable to performance, throughput, and quality outcomes **Run Fleet, Software, and Infrastructure Coordination:** * Ensure tight coordination across fleet reliability, station software, and operational infrastructure * Own readiness of materials, consumables, and station inputs required for continuous execution * Surface issues early, drive fast resolution, and prevent recurrence through system fixes **Scale Site Operations:** * Own expansion of DAQ operations * Define and enforce repeatable operating standards across sites * Build site leadership structure and coordination mechanisms that scale with growth * Ensure consistent execution as complexity and footprint increase **Drive Alignment in Ambiguous Environments:** * Create clarity across senior stakeholders when priorities, timelines, and constraints conflict * Make tradeoffs explicit and drive decisions to keep execution moving * Maintain tight communication across engineering, research, and operations as systems evolve **You might thrive in this role if you:** * Have led complex, cross-functional systems spanning engineering, operations, and external partners * Operate as a single-threaded owner who drives alignment and execution across ambiguous environments *