Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - SF

Details

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

Forward Deployed Engineers lead complex, end-to-end deployments of frontier models in production alongside strategic customers. The role owns discovery, technical scoping, system design, implementation, and production rollout while partnering directly with customer engineering and domain teams. Success is measured through production adoption, measurable workflow impact, and eval-driven feedback that influences product and model roadmaps.

The role is based in San Francisco and follows a hybrid work model with three days in the office per week. Travel of up to 50% is required.

Responsibilities

• Own technical delivery across multiple deployments, from initial prototype through stable production.
• Build full-stack systems that deliver customer value and improve organizational learning.
• Work closely with customer teams, understand their needs, and guide adoption of delivered systems.
• Scope work, sequence delivery, and remove blockers early.
• Make trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality while protecting delivery.
• Contribute directly to production code when progress or clarity depends on it.
• Codify working patterns into tools, playbooks, or reusable building blocks.
• Share field feedback with Research and Product teams to identify where models succeed and where they can improve.
• Keep teams moving through clarity and follow-through.
• Collaborate with Product, Research, Partnerships, GRC, Security, and GTM teams.

Requirements

• 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience, including 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 systems using Python, JavaScript, or comparable technology stacks.
• Experience building or deploying systems powered by large language models or generative models.
• Understanding of how model behavior 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 identify risks early and adjust plans without slowing delivery.
• Calm judgment when working on high-stakes projects.

Benefits

• Base salary of $185,000–$300,000 per year, plus equity.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts for health, dependent care, and 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.