Software Engineer, Compute Foundations Systems

Details

Frontier Systems Foundations, part of Compute Foundations at OpenAI, builds the systems software foundation that turns new compute infrastructure into reliable, usable capacity for frontier model training. The team develops and maintains Linux and Ubuntu operating-system images, kernels and modules, drivers, packages and repositories, disks and boot configuration, firmware integration, provisioning, and system-level validation across heterogeneous GPU fleets.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain the Linux host software stack for large GPU clusters, including Ubuntu and OS images, kernel configuration and modules, drivers, packages, disks and storage configuration, and machine configuration.
• Design reproducible OS-image builds, package and repository workflows, and system configuration for heterogeneous bare-metal and cloud compute fleets.
• Integrate, test, and qualify kernels, modules, drivers, packages, and firmware across new and existing hardware platforms.
• Build safe canary, rollback, and recovery paths for system changes.
• Bring up new hardware platforms and compute SKUs, collaborating with hardware engineers and vendors to resolve firmware, driver, operating-system, and compatibility issues.
• Debug complex failures across boot and provisioning, firmware, disks, kernels and drivers, and workload interactions.
• Turn recurring failure modes into durable fixes, tests, and automation.
• Improve provisioning, repave, maintenance, and recovery correctness by eliminating manual host-by-host intervention.
• Build systems tooling and diagnostics to validate, troubleshoot, and operate the host software stack across the installed fleet.

Requirements

• Significant experience building, integrating, or operating production Linux systems, particularly Ubuntu, Debian, or another major Linux distribution.
• Deep experience in one or more of the following areas: Linux kernels, modules, or device drivers; Linux distribution, package, repository, or OS-image engineering; boot, provisioning, disks, or machine configuration; or firmware and driver integration, qualification, or rollout.
• Ability to write, debug, and maintain production-quality systems software and automation using appropriate systems languages, scripting, and Linux tooling.
• Understanding of how to build, test, package, qualify, and safely deliver system-level changes, including compatibility testing, staged rollout, rollback, and recovery.
• Ability to systematically debug failures across hardware, firmware, boot, operating-system, kernel, and driver boundaries.
• Effective collaboration with hardware and software partners.

Bonus Points

• Experience building bare-metal provisioning, machine-bootstrap, OS-reprovisioning, or system-lifecycle tooling.
• Experience with GPU systems, AI infrastructure, HPC clusters, accelerators, or other heterogeneous and performance-sensitive compute environments.
• Experience bringing up new server platforms or working with hardware and software vendors on firmware, driver, or operating-system compatibility issues.
• Contributions to Linux, kernel subsystems or modules, distributions, package ecosystems, drivers, firmware tooling, or other open-source systems software.
• Experience delivering or supporting system-software changes across large production compute fleets.

Benefits

• Base salary range of $230,000–$490,000 per year, plus equity.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax flexible spending and commuter accounts.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid parental, medical, and caregiver leave.
• Paid time off, company holidays, and paid office closures.
• 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.

OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer committed to reasonable accommodations and compliance with applicable employment laws.