Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - Seattle

Details

About the team

OpenAI’s Forward Deployed Engineering team partners with customers to turn research breakthroughs into production systems. We operate at the intersection of customer delivery and core platform development.

About the role

Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) lead complex end-to-end deployments of frontier models in production alongside our most strategic customers. You will own discovery, technical scoping, system design, build, and production rollout, partnering directly with customer engineering and domain teams. You will measure success through production adoption, measurable workflow impact, and eval-driven feedback that changes product and model roadmaps. You’ll work closely with Product, Research, Partnerships, GRC, Security, and GTM teams.

This role is based in Seattle. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week. We offer relocation assistance. Travel up to 50% is required.

Responsibilities

• Own technical delivery across multiple deployments from first prototype to stable production
• Build full-stack systems that deliver customer value and sharpen how we learn
• Embed closely with customer teams, understand their needs, and guide adoption of what you build
• Scope work, sequence delivery, and remove blockers early
• Make trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality; adjust plans to protect delivery
• Contribute directly in the code when progress or clarity depends on it
• Codify working patterns into tools, playbooks, or building blocks that others can use
• Share field feedback that helps Research and Product understand where the models succeed and where they can improve
• Keep teams moving through clarity and follow-through

Requirements

• 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience that includes customer-facing work
• Experience scoping and delivering complex systems in fast-moving or ambiguous environments
• Ability to write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend using Python, JavaScript, or comparable stacks
• Experience building or deploying systems powered by LLMs or generative models and understanding how model behaviour affects product experience
• Ability to simplify complexity and make fast, sound decisions under pressure
• Clear communication with engineers, product teams, and customer stakeholders
• Ability to spot risks early and adjust without slowing down; model calm and judgment when the stakes are high

Benefits

• Base salary range: $162,000 - $280,000 (total compensation may include equity and performance-related bonus(es))
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts
• Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents), plus paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)
• Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
• 13+ paid company holidays and multiple coordinated office closures
• Mental health and wellness support
• Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage
• Annual learning and development stipend
• Daily meals in offices and meal delivery credits as eligible
• Relocation support for eligible employees
• Additional taxable fringe benefits (charitable donation matching, wellness stipends, etc.)

Additional notes

• This role is at-will; base pay may vary depending on market location, experience, and skills
• Background checks will be administered in accordance with applicable law
• OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities.