Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering

Details

About the team

OpenAI’s Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) team partners with our customers to turn research breakthroughs into production systems. We embed with users to solve high-leverage problems, move fast from prototype to deployment, and surface reusable patterns that shape our platform. We operate at the intersection of field delivery and internal development, working closely with Product, Research, and Go-To-Market (GTM).

About the role

As an FDE manager, you’ll lead FDEs through high-stakes, ambiguous customer deployments and own technical and business value outcomes end to end. You’ll grow a team that can operate under pressure and help OpenAI learn from the field. You’ll partner closely with Product, Research, Sales, and GTM to ensure fieldwork informs roadmap priorities, drives new exploration, and supports safe deployment at scale. Your decisions will influence how OpenAI is trusted by the customers closest to our deployment work. Your success will be measured by how consistently your team ships, how clearly you deliver signal to Research and Product, and how durable your team and delivery model prove to be.

This role is based in New York City. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week. We offer relocation assistance. This role also will require travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a team of FDE delivering production systems with frontier models
• Own end-to-end delivery outcomes through clarity, speed, tight coordination, and technical quality
• Codify what works into tools, playbooks, and roadmap inputs that create leverage for both OpenAI and our wider developer community
• Notice early indicators and raise them with urgency, whether in product behavior, customer environments, or delivery practices
• Use judgement to distinguish what requires action and what does not
• Set a high bar for FDE performance and support each person’s growth through direct, actionable feedback
• Define how we staff and support field teams that can scale without added complexity

Requirements

• 8+ years of engineering or technical delivery experience, including 2+ years managing high-performing FDE or customer-facing engineers
• Experience leading high-pressure technical projects from prototype to production
• Ability to write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend using JavaScript or Python
• Ability to simplify complex work and make fast, sound decisions under pressure
• Experience elevating team performance through clarity rather than process
• Ability to operate with urgency in ambiguous or evolving environments
• Experience translating field experience into sharp, actionable feedback for Product and Research
• Ability to build deep trust with your team by modeling calm, focus, and judgment when it matters most

Compensation & Benefits

• Listed compensation: $345K (base pay summary shown); offers equity
• Base pay may vary depending on market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience
• Total compensation may include equity and performance-related bonuses for eligible employees
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer HSA contributions; pre-tax accounts (Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter); 401(k) with employer match
• Paid parental leave, paid medical and caregiver leave, flexible PTO and paid holidays
• 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 details

• Workplace type: Hybrid (3 days in office per week)
• Location: New York City, United States
• Travel: up to 25%
• OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Background checks will be administered in accordance with applicable law.