Component and Product Quality Engineer, Interconnects

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 OpenAI's 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., 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, plugg