Role Overview

OpenAI's Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) are mission-critical specialists who bridge the gap between groundbreaking AI research and enterprise-scale production deployments. Based in San Francisco, you'll lead end-to-end implementations of large language models (LLMs) and generative AI systems for OpenAI's most important customers.

In this high-impact role, you'll own the full lifecycle of complex deployments—from initial discovery and technical scoping through system design, development, and production rollout. Success is measured by production adoption rates, measurable workflow improvements for customers, and evaluation-driven feedback that directly influences OpenAI's product and model roadmaps.

Working in a hybrid model (3 days/week in our San Francisco office), you'll collaborate closely with Product, Research, Partnerships, GRC, Security, and GTM teams. Expect up to 50% travel to customer sites, with full relocation assistance provided for exceptional candidates.

This isn't just engineering—it's strategic partnership at the forefront of artificial intelligence. FDEs at OpenAI shape how frontier models transform industries and drive humanity's progress toward safe AGI.

Key Responsibilities

As a Forward Deployed Engineer, your impact will span technical leadership, customer partnership, and cross-functional collaboration:

• Lead technical delivery for multiple high-stakes deployments, owning everything from first prototype to stable production systems
• Design and build full-stack solutions that deliver immediate customer value while capturing insights to improve OpenAI's core platform
• Embed directly with customer engineering and domain teams to deeply understand workflows and guide successful adoption
• Conduct thorough discovery sessions, technical scoping, and create detailed system architectures tailored to customer needs
• Sequence delivery milestones strategically while proactively removing blockers and managing dependencies
• Make critical trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality to ensure on-time delivery of mission-critical systems
• Write production-grade code across frontend (JavaScript/React) and backend (Python/FastAPI) when hands-on contribution accelerates progress
• Distill field learnings into reusable tools, deployment playbooks, and architectural building blocks that scale across the FDE team
• Deliver actionable feedback loops to Research and Product teams, directly influencing model training priorities and product roadmaps
• Maintain relentless execution through crystal-clear communication and unwavering follow-through
• Partner cross-functionally with OpenAI's world-class teams including Platform Engineering, Applied AI, and Customer Success
• Drive measurable outcomes through production adoption metrics, workflow efficiency gains, and rigorous evaluation frameworks

Qualifications

We're seeking battle-tested engineers who thrive in ambiguity and deliver results under pressure:

• 5+ years of software engineering or technical deployment experience, with significant customer-facing responsibility
• Demonstrated success scoping, designing, and delivering complex distributed systems in fast-paced environments
• Production-grade coding expertise across full-stack technologies (Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, React, FastAPI, cloud infrastructure)
• Hands-on experience building or deploying LLM-powered applications and deep understanding of model behavior in production
• Proven ability to simplify complex technical problems and make high-quality decisions rapidly
• Exceptional communication skills—able to align engineers, PMs, executives, and customer stakeholders
• Strong risk radar with experience proactively mitigating issues without sacrificing velocity
• Cool-headed judgment and calm execution when stakes are highest

Bonus Points: Experience with enterprise AI deployments, vector databases, RAG architectures, evaluation frameworks, or working at AI/ML-focused companies.

Salary & Benefits

Compensation: $280,000 - $450,000 base salary + equity + bonus (total compensation depends on experience and location)

• Comprehensive health, dental, vision insurance
• 401(k) with generous matching
• Unlimited PTO with wellness days
• 16 weeks paid parental leave
• Full relocation to San Francisco
• Professional development budget
• Daily catered meals and snacks
• Gym membership reimbursement
• Mental health benefits

Why Join OpenAI?

OpenAI isn't just building AI—we're creating the future of human potential. As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll:

• Work directly with the models powering ChatGPT, DALL-E, and future frontier systems
• Partner with Fortune 500 enterprises transforming their core operations with AI
• Shape OpenAI's deployment platform used by thousands of developers worldwide
• Contribute to humanity's most important technical challenge: safe AGI
• Join 1,000+ world-class researchers, engineers, and operators in San Francisco

OpenAI offers equal opportunity employment and is committed to diversity. We value different perspectives that form humanity's full spectrum.

How to Apply

Ready to deploy the future? Submit your resume, GitHub/portfolio, and a brief note about your most impactful customer-facing deployment. We're moving fast—top candidates interview within one week.

Locations: San Francisco, CA (hybrid) | Travel: Up to 50% | Visa sponsorship: Available for exceptional candidates

Apply Now and join the team building tomorrow's intelligence today.