Principal Software Engineer, B2B Engineering

Details

OpenAI’s B2B Engineering team builds backend systems, APIs, and infrastructure that power developer and enterprise products. The work spans distributed systems, data infrastructure, platform services, security, compliance, authentication, and reliability.

The role focuses on designing and scaling backend services and platform capabilities that bring new AI functionality into production safely, reliably, and at global scale. The position covers distributed systems, APIs, databases, data pipelines, and secure enterprise infrastructure, with an emphasis on performance, safety, reliability, and API design.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and scale backend services, APIs, and infrastructure for developer and enterprise products.
• Lead the architecture of distributed systems, databases, and data pipelines supporting large-scale, high-reliability production workloads.
• Own major platform capabilities end-to-end, from technical strategy and design through implementation, launch, and long-term operation.
• Shape API design as a core product surface and drive a high-quality developer experience.
• Build secure, reliable, and compliant systems for enterprise and developer use cases.
• Partner with product, research, design, infrastructure, and forward-deployed engineering teams to bring new capabilities into production.
• Drive technical direction across complex problem spaces and make architectural tradeoffs balancing speed, quality, and maintainability.
• Improve engineering velocity through internal tooling, platform abstractions, and systems that increase organizational leverage.
• Raise engineering standards for system design, operational excellence, and technical decision-making.
• Identify and solve ambiguous, high-impact technical problems spanning multiple systems and stakeholders.

Requirements

• Significant experience building, scaling, and evolving production backend systems in fast-moving environments.
• Deep expertise in software engineering fundamentals, distributed systems, and API design.
• Proficiency in one or more backend languages such as Python, Go, Rust, or TypeScript.
• Experience leading complex technical initiatives and driving architecture across teams or critical product areas.
• Strong focus on reliability, safety, security, and performance in production environments.
• Strong product instincts and a high bar for developer experience and interface design.
• Ability to work in ambiguous, fast-moving environments and create clarity where little exists.
• Ownership of problems end-to-end and willingness to learn what is needed to solve them.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines and influence technical direction through sound judgment, clear communication, and high-quality execution.
• Experience as a founder or early startup engineer, or experience building products and platforms from scratch.

Benefits

• Base salary of $385,000–$490,000 per year.
• Equity and performance-related bonuses for eligible employees.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts and commuter benefits.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid parental, medical, and caregiver leave.
• Paid time off, company holidays, and paid sick or safe time.
• Mental health and wellness support.
• Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage.
• Annual learning and development stipend.
• Office meals and eligible meal delivery credits.
• Relocation support for eligible employees.
• Additional benefits may include charitable donation matching and wellness stipends.