Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - SF
About this role
OpenAI builds advanced AI systems and deploys them to the world through products that help people solve global challenges. The Forward Deployed Engineering team partners directly with strategic customers to turn research breakthroughs into production-ready systems, operating at the exact intersection of customer delivery and core platform development.
As a Forward Deployed Engineer in San Francisco, you will lead complex end-to-end deployments of frontier models in production alongside key customer teams. You will own technical scoping, system design, building, and rollout while translating field feedback into improvements for product and model roadmaps. Success in this position is measured by production adoption, measurable workflow impact, and evaluation-driven feedback that directly influences future platform iterations.
What you will do
- Own technical delivery across multiple deployments moving from initial prototypes to stable production environments.
- Build full-stack systems that deliver customer value while clarifying how the platform learns.
- Embed closely with customer teams to understand their unique needs and guide the adoption of built solutions.
- Scope work, sequence delivery schedules, and remove technical blockers early in the process.
- Make pragmatic trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality while adjusting plans to protect delivery timelines.
- Write production-grade code directly when project progress or technical clarity depends on it.
- Codify working patterns into reusable tools, playbooks, and building blocks for broader team usage.
What you need
- Bring five or more years of engineering or technical deployment experience featuring customer-facing responsibilities.
- Demonstrate a history of scoping and delivering complex systems within fast-moving or ambiguous environments.
- Write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend using Python, JavaScript, or comparable stacks.
- Possess experience building or deploying systems powered by large language models or generative models.
- Communicate clearly and effectively with engineers, product teams, and external customer stakeholders.
- Identify risks early and adjust operational execution without sacrificing overall momentum.
Benefits
- Offers Equity
- Relocation assistance
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the remote work policy for this role?
This role is based in San Francisco and uses a hybrid work model. Employees are expected to be in the office 3 days per week.
What is the compensation package offered?
The salary range is $185K to $300K. The position also offers equity and relocation assistance.
How much travel is required for this position?
Travel up to 50% is required for this role. You will embed closely with customer teams during deployments.
What teams will I collaborate with internally?
You will work closely with Product, Research, Partnerships, GRC, Security, and GTM teams. Field feedback is shared with Research and Product to help improve model success.