Role Overview

The AI Deployment Engineer role at OpenAI represents a unique intersection of deep technical expertise, startup passion, and strategic business impact. Based in our New York City headquarters, you'll serve as a trusted technical advisor to some of the most exciting AI startups building on our platform.

Our AI Deployment Engineering team ensures safe, effective deployment of Generative AI applications for developers and enterprises worldwide. We partner with customers ranging from early-stage startups to global enterprises, building comprehensive backlogs of GenAI use cases and driving them to production through expert technical guidance.

In this role, you'll work hand-in-hand with founders and engineering teams, guiding them from initial ideation through scalable production deployment. You'll tackle the most novel and creative use cases being built on our API while serving as a critical feedback loop to our Product and Research teams.

This hybrid position (3 days/week in NYC HQ) offers relocation assistance and positions you at the epicenter of AI innovation in one of the world's most dynamic tech hubs.

Key Responsibilities

As an AI Deployment Engineer, your impact will span technical leadership, customer success, and product influence:

• Become the primary technical thought partner for strategic startup customers, architecting novel applications on our API
• Accelerate customer journey from ideation to production scale through hands-on guidance
• Prototype and experiment alongside customers to validate innovative GenAI use cases
• Drive maximum business value by proactively identifying AI deployment opportunities
• Synthesize and deliver high-fidelity feedback to Product, Research, and Engineering teams
• Contribute to open-source resources, best practices documentation, and developer tools
• Build relationships across the startup ecosystem as OpenAI's technical representative
• Manage multiple concurrent customer engagements with ruthless prioritization
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Solutions Engineering, and Applied Research
• Publish technical resources that scale our team's impact across the developer community
• Demonstrate practical ROI from OpenAI API implementations to diverse stakeholders
• Stay at the forefront of AI/LLM best practices and deployment patterns

Qualifications

We're seeking battle-tested engineers who thrive in startup environments:

• 5+ years as software/ML engineer, ideally in startups; founder/founding engineer experience highly valued
• Deep proficiency in Python, JavaScript, and AI/LLM development best practices
• Proven track record building prototypes and production applications on OpenAI API
• Demonstrated ability to own complex technical problems end-to-end
• Passion for startups and conviction in their potential to redefine industries
• Exceptional operator who can manage high-velocity, multi-project environments
• Collaborative mindset with humble approach to team success
• Proactive business thinker who maximizes customer ROI through technical excellence

Bonus Points: Experience across full-stack development, cloud infrastructure, DevOps, and startup scaling challenges.

Salary & Benefits

Compensation Range: $220,000 - $320,000 base + equity + benefits (Total compensation varies based on experience and location)

OpenAI offers one of the most competitive compensation packages in AI:

• Market-leading base salary with significant equity upside
• Hybrid NYC work model with full relocation support
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
• 401(k) matching and financial planning benefits
• Unlimited PTO with wellness focus
• 16 weeks paid parental leave for all parents
• Professional development stipend
• Fitness, mental health, and commuter benefits

Why Join OpenAI?

Work on Humanity's Most Important Problem: OpenAI exists to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity. Your work directly shapes the safe deployment of transformative AI technologies.

Unparalleled Impact: Partner with the world's most innovative AI startups building category-defining products on our platform.

Technical Leadership: Stay at the bleeding edge of Generative AI, LLMs, and deployment best practices.

Startup Culture at Enterprise Scale: Experience startup velocity with world-class resources and global reach.

NYC Tech Hub: Join our growing New York presence at the intersection of finance, media, and technology innovation.

Career Acceleration: Work alongside the industry's top talent with direct access to research and product leadership.

How to Apply

Ready to deploy the future of AI? Submit your application including:

• Resume/CV highlighting relevant technical experience
• GitHub/portfolio with OpenAI API projects (strongly preferred)
• Brief note on your favorite AI startup use case

Our interview process includes technical deep dives, customer scenario discussions, and team collaboration exercises. We prioritize diverse perspectives and are committed to building an inclusive team.

OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.