Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering Careers at OpenAI - San Francisco, CA

Join OpenAI's elite Forward Deployed Engineering team and lead the charge in transforming cutting-edge AI research into production-ready systems that power the world's most innovative companies. This senior leadership role offers unparalleled impact at the intersection of customer delivery and core platform development.

Role Overview

As a foundational Manager of Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) at OpenAI, you'll spearhead high-stakes customer deployments with frontier AI models. Based in San Francisco with a hybrid work model (3 days/week in office), this role demands technical excellence, leadership prowess, and the ability to thrive in ambiguity.

OpenAI's FDE team bridges the gap between groundbreaking research and real-world production systems. You'll own technical and business outcomes end-to-end, growing a team that delivers under pressure while feeding critical learnings back to Research and Product teams. Your decisions will shape how OpenAI builds trust with enterprise customers and scales safely.

Success metrics focus on consistent shipping velocity, clear signal generation for product roadmap, and building durable delivery models. With up to 25% travel, you'll embed with customers to solve their toughest challenges using OpenAI's most advanced models.

Key Responsibilities

The Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering role encompasses leadership, technical delivery, and strategic influence:

• Lead and mentor a team of elite FDE engineers deploying production systems powered by frontier AI models.
• Own complete delivery lifecycle from scoping through deployment, ensuring clarity, speed, and technical excellence.
• Distill field learnings into scalable tools, playbooks, and roadmap recommendations benefiting OpenAI and the broader developer ecosystem.
• Proactively identify risks in product behavior, customer infrastructure, or delivery processes and escalate with urgency.
• Apply sharp judgment to prioritize high-impact actions amid ambiguity and competing priorities.
• Set rigorous performance bars and deliver candid, growth-oriented feedback to team members.
• Architect scalable staffing models that maintain quality as team size grows without proportional complexity.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Research, Sales, and Go-To-Market teams to align field insights with company priorities.
• Drive exploration of novel applications discovered through customer partnerships.
• Champion safe, reliable deployments that build lasting customer trust in OpenAI technology.
• Measure and communicate team impact through shipping cadence, signal quality, and delivery durability.
• Manage travel (up to 25%) and hybrid SF presence while maintaining operational excellence.

Qualifications

Exceptional candidates will demonstrate:

• 8+ years in engineering/technical delivery, including 2+ years managing customer-facing engineering teams.
• Proven success leading high-pressure projects from prototype to production at scale.
• Hands-on coding expertise in JavaScript/Python across full-stack development (frontend/backend).
• Mastery of simplifying complexity and making decisive calls under uncertainty.
• Track record elevating team output through clear communication rather than bureaucratic process.
• Thrives in fast-evolving, ambiguous environments with genuine urgency.
• Exceptional ability to convert field observations into precise, actionable product/research feedback.
• Leadership style that builds trust through demonstrated calm, focus, and judgment in crises.

Nice-to-haves include direct AI/ML deployment experience and enterprise customer delivery background.

Salary & Benefits

OpenAI offers competitive compensation for senior engineering leadership: $320,000 - $450,000 base salary plus equity, bonuses, and comprehensive benefits. Total compensation reflects experience, impact, and market data for SF-based AI leadership roles.

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

• Industry-leading health, dental, vision coverage
• 401(k) with generous company match
• Unlimited PTO with encouragement to recharge
• Hybrid SF work model + full relocation support
• Travel expenses covered (up to 25% for deployments)
• Professional growth stipend + conference budget
• Wellness programs including mental health support
• Parental leave and family-forming benefits
• Gym reimbursement and catered office meals
• Employee stock purchase opportunities

Why Join OpenAI?

OpenAI isn't just building AI—it's ensuring general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits humanity. As a Forward Deployed Engineering Manager, you'll:

• Work at the vanguard of AI deployment with frontier models before public release.
• Directly influence product roadmaps through real-world customer signal.
• Lead a high-impact team solving problems that shape enterprise AI adoption.
• Thrive in SF's AI epicenter with world-class peers and resources.
• Contribute to safe AI scaling that maintains OpenAI's leadership position.

OpenAI values diverse perspectives and maintains strict equal opportunity policies. This role offers mission-driven impact with startup agility and mature compensation.

How to Apply

Ready to lead OpenAI's field engineering excellence? Submit your resume, LinkedIn, and a brief note on your most impactful customer deployment leadership experience. We're moving quickly—top candidates will hear back within 48 hours.

OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates.