Backend Software Engineer, Applied Foundations

Details

OpenAI’s Applications Engineering organization builds and operates products such as ChatGPT and Codex that bring cutting-edge research to millions of users and developers worldwide.

The Applied Foundations team owns the core product and platform layers supporting these experiences, including identity and access, safety, payments, and commerce across OpenAI’s applications. The team spans product engineering, infrastructure, and safety, working to deliver reliable, secure, and trusted technology at global scale.

The role involves designing and implementing safe services and infrastructure that power OpenAI’s core products.

Responsibilities

• Architect, build, and improve scalable backend systems and APIs.
• Drive performance, reliability, and safety across distributed services.
• Implement data storage, retrieval, compute, and integration solutions.
• Participate in long-term architectural planning and technical design reviews.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design solutions that protect against and mitigate adversarial attacks without compromising user experience.

Requirements

• Strong experience with distributed systems, APIs, and backend languages such as Go, Python, Rust, or C++.
• Experience setting up and maintaining production backend services and data pipelines.
• Ability to build resilient services that handle large scale and complexity.
• Self-directed approach and ability to determine effective solutions to problems.
• Willingness to own problems end-to-end and acquire any missing knowledge needed to complete the work.
• Humble attitude, eagerness to help colleagues, and commitment to team success.

Benefits

• Base salary of $185,000–$385,000 per year, plus equity.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts for health and dependent care expenses, as well as commuter expenses.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid parental, medical, and caregiver leave.
• Paid time off, company holidays, and paid office closures.
• Mental health and wellness support.
• Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage.
• Annual learning and development stipend.
• Daily office meals and eligible meal delivery credits.
• Relocation support for eligible employees.
• Additional benefits may include charitable donation matching and wellness stipends.

OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Background checks are administered in accordance with applicable law.