Forward Deployed Engineer, Gov

Details

About the Team

The OpenAI for Government team is a dynamic, mission-driven group leveraging frontier AI to transform how governments achieve their missions. The team empowers public servants with secure, compliant AI tools, such as ChatGPT Enterprise and ChatGPT Gov, and mission-aligned deployments that meet government technical requirements with strong reliability and safety.

About the Role

Forward Deployed Engineers lead complex deployments of frontier models in production. This role embeds with strategic government and public sector customers, where model performance matters, delivery is urgent, and ambiguity is the default. The role involves mapping customer problems, structuring delivery, and rapidly shipping full-stack solutions that create measurable value while driving clarity across internal and external teams.

You will work directly with defense, intelligence, and federal stakeholders as their technical thought partner, guiding adoption, maximizing mission impact, and ensuring successful deployments at scale. You will also identify reusable patterns, codify best practices, and share field feedback that influences OpenAI's roadmap.

The role is based in Washington, DC, Seattle, or San Francisco. OpenAI uses a hybrid work model requiring three days in the office per week. Relocation assistance is offered. Travel of up to 50% is required, including on-site work with customers.

Responsibilities

• Own technical delivery across multiple government deployments, from initial prototype through stable production.
• Embed deeply with public sector customers to design and build novel applications powered by OpenAI models.
• Enable successful deployments across customer environments by delivering observable systems spanning infrastructure through applications.
• Prototype and build full-stack systems using Python, JavaScript, or comparable stacks that deliver real mission impact.
• Proactively guide customers on maximizing business and operational value from their applications.
• Forge and manage relationships with customer leadership and stakeholders, ensuring successful deployment and scale.
• Scope work, sequence delivery, and remove blockers early while making trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality.
• Contribute directly to code when clarity or momentum depends on it.
• Codify working patterns into tools, playbooks, or reusable building blocks.
• Share field feedback with Research and Product to influence model and product development.
• Keep teams moving through clarity, judgment, and consistent follow-through.

Requirements

• 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience, ideally in customer-facing or government environments.
• Active TS/SCI clearance or equivalent.
• Experience scoping and delivering complex systems in fast-moving or ambiguous contexts.
• Ability to write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend using Python, JavaScript, or similar stacks.
• Familiarity with cloud deployment models, including Azure and AWS, as well as Kubernetes, Terraform, and related infrastructure.
• Experience building or deploying systems powered by LLMs or generative models, with an understanding of how model behavior affects product experience.
• Ability to simplify complexity, make fast and sound decisions under pressure, and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to identify risks early, adjust without slowing down, and exercise calm judgment when stakes are high.
• Humble, collaborative, and empathetic approach to working with others.
• Ability to thrive in dynamic environments and prioritize across multiple projects.

Benefits

• Base salary of $145,800–$280,000 per year.
• Equity and performance-related bonuses for eligible employees.
• 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, paid company holidays, office closures, and paid sick or safe time as required by applicable law.
• 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.