Machine Learning Engineer, Distributed Data Systems

Details

The Sora team is pioneering multimodal capabilities for OpenAI’s foundation models. The team is a hybrid research and product group focused on integrating multimodal functionalities into AI products, ensuring reliability, usability, and alignment with broad societal benefit.

About the role

As a Research Engineer, Distributed Data Systems, you will design and scale the infrastructure that powers large-scale multimodal training and evaluation at OpenAI. You will manage distributed data pipelines, collaborate closely with researchers to translate requirements into robust systems, and harden pipelines that serve as the backbone for Sora’s rapid iteration cycles.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. The team uses a hybrid work model (3 days in the office per week). OpenAI offers relocation assistance to new employees.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain data infrastructure systems such as distributed compute, data orchestration, distributed storage, streaming infrastructure, and machine learning infrastructure while ensuring scalability, reliability, and security.
• Ensure the data platform can scale by orders of magnitude while remaining reliable and efficient.
• Partner with researchers to deeply understand requirements and translate them into production-ready systems.
• Harden, optimize, and maintain critical data infrastructure systems that power multimodal training and evaluation.

Requirements / Qualifications (implicit in posting)

• Strong experience with distributed systems and large-scale infrastructure, with a strong interest in data.
• Detail-oriented and rigorous in building and maintaining reliable systems.
• Excellent software engineering fundamentals and organizational skills.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change; able to work closely with research teams to translate experimental needs into robust infrastructure.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. The company emphasizes safety, inclusion, and diverse perspectives. OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base pay range listed: $295K–$445K (base pay may vary depending on location, knowledge, skills, and experience).
• Offers equity; total compensation may include 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 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), 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, plus paid sick or safe time as required by law.
• 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.

Other notes

• Background checks will be administered in accordance with applicable law. For US-based candidates, certain local fair chance ordinances are referenced.
• Additional details and policies are provided via OpenAI links included in the original posting.