Role Overview: Lead AI Transformation for Government at OpenAI

The AI Deployment Engineer role at OpenAI in Washington, DC represents a groundbreaking opportunity to shape the future of generative AI in the public sector. As the founding AI Deployment Engineer for our Public Sector segment, you'll serve as the technical vanguard, partnering directly with federal, state, and local government agencies to deploy cutting-edge Generative AI solutions. This position demands a rare combination of deep technical expertise, public sector experience, and strategic vision.

OpenAI's AI Deployment Engineering team ensures safe, effective deployment of Generative AI applications that deliver measurable impact. From automated content generation to contextual search and novel model applications, you'll architect solutions using our newest, most advanced models. This role requires active TS/SCI clearance and is based in Washington, DC with relocation support provided.

Government agencies face unprecedented challenges - from citizen services modernization to national security enhancement. You'll translate these complex needs into actionable AI strategies, moving from ideation through production deployment. This isn't consulting; it's mission-critical transformation powered by frontier AI technology.

Expect to collaborate across OpenAI's elite teams - Sales, Solutions Engineering, Global Affairs, Applied Research, and Product - while forging deep relationships with agency leadership, systems integrators, and implementation partners. Your work will directly influence how governments leverage AI at scale.

Key Responsibilities: Drive Government AI Deployment Success

1. Technical Leadership Embedding: Deeply embed with sophisticated public sector customers as their primary technical lead and thought partner for novel OpenAI API applications.
2. Strategic Backlog Development: Partner with senior stakeholders to identify industry-specific GenAI applications and build comprehensive, prioritized backlogs supporting long-term AI roadmaps.
3. Hands-On Acceleration: Directly intervene to accelerate time-to-value through rapid prototype development and strategic guidance, often collaborating with premier systems integrators.
4. Stakeholder Relationship Management: Forge and maintain executive relationships with customer leadership, technical teams, and implementation partners ensuring deployment success.
5. Architecture Design: Take holistic view of customer needs to design scalable architectures leveraging OpenAI API and complementary services for maximum value realization.
6. Knowledge Scaling: Scale the AI Deployment Engineering function through knowledge sharing, best practices codification, and publishing production-ready notebooks.
7. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner seamlessly with Sales, Solutions Engineering, Global Affairs, Applied Research, and Product teams to deliver integrated solutions.
8. Feedback Loop Mastery: Validate, synthesize, and deliver high-signal technical feedback to OpenAI's Product, Engineering, and Research organizations.
9. Open Source Contribution: Contribute meaningfully to developer and enterprise resources advancing the broader AI ecosystem.
10. Production Deployment: Guide customers from prototype through secure, scalable production deployment meeting federal standards.
11. Risk Mitigation: Ensure all deployments meet stringent security, compliance, and ethical AI standards required for government applications.
12. Innovation Leadership: Continuously identify emerging use cases leveraging OpenAI's newest models and capabilities.
13. Performance Optimization: Optimize API implementations for cost, performance, and reliability at government scale.

These responsibilities demand senior-level execution across technical, strategic, and relationship domains - perfect for proven public sector AI leaders.

Qualifications: Who Thrives as OpenAI's AI Deployment Engineer

This senior role requires battle-tested expertise bridging Generative AI innovation with public sector realities. Successful candidates demonstrate:

• 7+ years technical consulting experience with U.S. government customers (federal strongly preferred)
• Active TS/SCI clearance - non-negotiable requirement
• Proven leadership of GenAI/ML implementations for government agencies
• Deep network/cloud architecture expertise including on-premise deployments
• Executive communication skills translating complex technical concepts
• Hands-on Python/JavaScript development experience
• Systems integrator collaboration success stories
• End-to-end problem ownership mentality
• Public sector acquisition process fluency
• Federal compliance and security standards mastery

OpenAI seeks humble, high-throughput operators who prioritize team success and embrace whatever it takes mentality. If you've delivered AI value at government scale, this is your platform to lead at the frontier.

Salary & Benefits: Elite Compensation for Elite Talent

OpenAI compensates at the highest market rates for senior public sector AI talent. Total compensation for qualified TS/SCI-cleared candidates typically ranges from $250,000 - $400,000+ annually, including:

• Highly competitive base salary
• Significant equity in OpenAI (pre-IPO upside potential)
• Comprehensive health benefits (100% premiums covered)
• Unlimited PTO with recharge encouragement
• Generous parental leave
• Relocation package to Washington, DC
• Professional development stipend
• Learning budget for certifications/conferences
• Team offsites and company retreats

This package reflects OpenAI's commitment to attracting and retaining the world's best AI deployment talent for mission-critical government applications.

Why Join OpenAI's Government AI Team?

Shape National AI Strategy: Influence how America deploys frontier AI across federal agencies. Your architectures will power citizen services, national security, and public good at unprecedented scale.

Work with Elite Models: Access OpenAI's newest, most powerful models before general availability. Build applications pushing AI boundaries in classified environments.

Public Sector Impact: Transform government operations through automated content generation, intelligent search, decision support systems, and novel applications limited only by mission imagination.

Career Acceleration: Founding team member establishing OpenAI's Public Sector practice. Lead from Washington, DC - epicenter of government technology transformation.

Technical Leadership: Collaborate with OpenAI's world-class researchers, engineers, and product teams while maintaining deep customer embedding.

How to Apply: Join OpenAI's Government AI Mission

Ready to deploy frontier AI at government scale? Submit your application including:

• Current resume highlighting public sector AI/ML delivery
• TS/SCI clearance verification
• Github/portfolio showcasing Python/JavaScript/API work
• Government project case studies demonstrating impact

OpenAI's hiring process includes technical deep-dive, customer scenario simulation, and executive panel. Top candidates move quickly.

Applications without active TS/SCI clearance will not be considered. U.S. citizenship required.

Join the team transforming government through Generative AI. Apply now and shape the future.