Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) at OpenAI - New York City Career Opportunity

Join OpenAI's elite Forward Deployed Engineering team in New York City and become the bridge between groundbreaking AI research and real-world production impact. As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you'll lead complex deployments of frontier AI models for OpenAI's most strategic customers, owning everything from discovery to production rollout.

Role Overview

OpenAI's Forward Deployed Engineering team operates at the critical intersection of customer delivery and core platform development. Forward Deployed Engineers lead end-to-end deployments of cutting-edge large language models (LLMs) and generative AI systems into production environments. Based in the heart of New York City with a hybrid model (3 days/week in office), this role requires up to 50% travel to work directly with enterprise customers.

Success is measured by production adoption rates, measurable workflow improvements, and evaluation-driven feedback that directly influences OpenAI's product and model roadmaps. FDEs partner cross-functionally with Product, Research, Partnerships, Governance Risk & Compliance (GRC), Security, and Go-To-Market (GTM) teams to ensure seamless integration of frontier AI capabilities.

This is not a traditional software engineering role. FDEs are technical leaders who thrive in ambiguity, make high-stakes decisions under pressure, and deliver customer value at scale. If you have 5+ years of customer-facing engineering experience and passion for deploying generative AI, this NYC-based role offers unparalleled impact.

Key Responsibilities

End-to-End Ownership: Take full ownership of technical delivery across multiple deployments, from initial prototypes through stable production systems. You'll scope requirements, design architectures, build solutions, and manage rollout with enterprise customers.

Customer Embedding: Work shoulder-to-shoulder with customer engineering and domain teams. Deeply understand their workflows, challenges, and success metrics to guide adoption of AI-powered solutions you build.

Full-Stack Development: Build production-grade full-stack systems using Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, and modern frameworks. Integrate frontier LLMs into customer applications while optimizing for performance, reliability, and scalability.

Strategic Decision Making: Make critical trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality. Sequence delivery effectively and remove blockers proactively to protect timelines and customer expectations.

Pattern Codification: Transform field learnings into reusable tools, playbooks, and building blocks that scale success across the FDE team and broader OpenAI deployment ecosystem.

Feedback Loop Mastery: Capture detailed field feedback that shapes Research and Product roadmaps. Design evaluation frameworks that quantify model performance in production environments.

Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner seamlessly with OpenAI's world-class Product, Research, Partnerships, GRC, Security, and GTM teams to deliver integrated solutions.

Qualifications

To thrive as an OpenAI Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll need:

• 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience with significant customer-facing responsibility
• Demonstrated success scoping and delivering complex technical systems in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
• Production-grade coding proficiency across full-stack (Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, React, Node.js, etc.)
• Hands-on experience building or deploying LLM-powered or generative AI systems
• Deep understanding of how model behavior impacts downstream product experiences and user workflows
• Proven ability to simplify complexity and make sound decisions under pressure
• Exceptional communication skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Strong risk assessment capabilities with proactive mitigation strategies
• Calm, judgment-driven leadership in high-stakes situations

Bonus: Experience with MLOps, cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP/Azure), API design, and enterprise deployment patterns.

Salary & Benefits

OpenAI offers competitive compensation for Forward Deployed Engineers in New York City, typically ranging from $250,000 - $450,000+ total compensation including base salary, equity, and bonuses. Exact compensation depends on experience level and location.

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

• Industry-leading medical, dental, vision coverage
• 401(k) with generous company match
• Unlimited PTO with recharge encouragement
• Full relocation support to NYC
• Travel expenses covered (up to 50% travel)
• Parental leave and family benefits
• Professional development stipend
• Wellness programs and gym reimbursement
• Catered meals and modern NYC office
• Latest AI development hardware

Why Join OpenAI?

OpenAI isn't just building AI - we're deploying it safely at scale to benefit humanity. As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll:

• Work with the world's most advanced AI models before public release
• Partner with Fortune 500 enterprises transforming their industries
• Directly influence OpenAI's research and product roadmaps
• Join a mission-driven team in the epicenter of AI innovation (NYC)
• Receive equity in a company reshaping humanity's future

OpenAI values diverse perspectives and backgrounds. We're committed to building AI that benefits all of humanity through inclusive practices and equal opportunity employment.

How to Apply

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

• Resume/CV highlighting customer-facing technical deployments
• GitHub/portfolio with relevant LLM/AI projects
• Explanation of your most impactful customer deployment (300 words max)

OpenAI's interview process includes technical coding, system design, customer scenario discussions, and team fit interviews. Background checks administered per applicable law.

Locations: New York City, NY (Hybrid - 3 days/week office + up to 50% travel). Relocation assistance provided.

Join the AI revolution. Apply for Forward Deployed Engineer at OpenAI today and shape the future of enterprise AI deployment.