Software Engineer, Backend (Knowledge Innovation)

Details

About the Team

The Knowledge Innovation team is scaling OpenAI with OpenAI. We are building a model-powered knowledge system that evolves and learns as our products, systems and customers evolve. We leverage state-of-the-art models, technologies, and products to assist or automate robust operations supporting internal and external customers. The team supports OpenAI customers and internal partners globally, powering systems from customer support to integrity to product insights. The team is multi-disciplinary, iterates quickly, and engineers for reliable long-term impact by building simple primitives that apply world-class knowledge across domains.

About the Role

We are looking for a Backend Software Engineer to help architect and scale the infrastructure that powers our knowledge systems. This is a deeply technical and highly cross-functional role where you will build robust systems and backend services that serve as the foundation for how knowledge is created, accessed, and applied across OpenAI.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain backend services and APIs to support intelligent automation and knowledge systems.
• Integrate and structure data across internal platforms, transforming it into formats optimized for downstream systems and AI workflows.
• Collaborate closely 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 with scale and maintainability in mind while rapidly iterating on new ideas.

Requirements

• 4+ years of backend engineering experience at product-driven companies (excluding internships).
• Proficiency in backend technologies; the team tech stack includes Python, FastAPI, and Postgres.
• Experience designing and scaling distributed systems, APIs, or data processing pipelines.
• Pragmatic mindset: comfortable 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 AI/ML and excitement to work alongside research and product teams (hands-on ML experience is a bonus, not required).

Benefits

• Base pay range: $255,000 - $405,000 (varies by market location, skills, and experience).
• Equity and potential performance-related bonuses for eligible employees.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts (Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter accounts).
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Paid parental leave and paid medical/caregiver leave.
• Flexible PTO and paid company holidays/office closures.
• 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.
• Additional taxable fringe benefits such as charitable donation matching and wellness stipends.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring general-purpose AI benefits all of humanity. The company emphasizes safety, inclusion, and diverse perspectives. Background checks and reasonable accommodations are conducted in accordance with applicable law and policy documentation provided to candidates.