Software Engineer, Backend (Cooperative AI)

at OpenAI

📍 San Francisco, United States
📍 Seattle, United States

USD 230,000-385,000 per year

MIDDLE SENIOR

✅ On-site

✅ Relocation

Tech Stack
Tag name is followed by "@" symbol and proficiency level value. About proficiency levels:

1-2 — basic awareness. Minimal hands-on experience, and a rudimentary understanding of the technology's purpose;

3-6 — daily use. Comfortable and regular usage, capable of handling common tasks and challenges related to the technology;

7-9 — you are an expert, you can teach others, you know all the pitfalls and tricks;

10 — exceptional knowledge, comprehensive understanding, and adeptness in all aspects of the technology, including advanced problem-solving. Think twice before claiming or demanding such level.

AI @ 3 API @ 3 Customer Support @ 3 Distributed Systems @ 3 FastAPI @ 3 Machine Learning @ 3 PostgreSQL @ 3 Python @ 3

Details

The Cooperative AI team is building a model-powered knowledge system that evolves and learns as products, systems, and customers evolve. The team develops knowledge, automation, and agent systems to support internal and external customers, including customer support, integrity, and product insights.

The role focuses on architecting and scaling the infrastructure that powers knowledge systems. You will build robust backend services and systems that support how knowledge is created, accessed, and applied across OpenAI.

Responsibilities

Design, build, and maintain backend services and APIs for intelligent automation and knowledge systems.
Integrate and structure data across internal platforms, transforming it into formats optimized for downstream systems and AI workflows.
Collaborate with product, research, and engineering teams to integrate OpenAI models into high-leverage workflows.
Own the full development lifecycle of new backend systems and internal platform capabilities.
Build for scale and maintainability while rapidly iterating on new ideas.

Requirements

4+ years of backend engineering experience at product-driven companies, excluding internships.
Proficiency with backend technologies. The technology stack includes Python, FastAPI, and PostgreSQL.
Experience designing and scaling distributed systems, APIs, or data processing pipelines.
A pragmatic mindset and comfort shipping iteratively while building toward a long-term vision.
Interest in structured knowledge representation, internal search, agent infrastructure, or systems that evolve over time.
Curiosity about artificial intelligence and machine learning, with enthusiasm for working alongside research and product teams. Hands-on AI/ML experience is a bonus but not required.

About OpenAI

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

Benefits

Base salary range of $230,000–$385,000 USD, plus 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, parking, and transit.
401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
Paid parental, medical, and caregiver leave.
Paid time off, 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.