Software Engineer, Distributed Data Systems (Sora)

Details

About the Team

The Sora team is pioneering multimodal capabilities for OpenAI’s foundation models. We’re a hybrid research and product team focused on integrating multimodal functionalities into our AI products, ensuring they are reliable, user-friendly, and aligned with our mission of broad societal benefit.

About the Role

As a Software Engineer, Distributed Data Systems, you will design and scale the infrastructure that powers large-scale multimodal training and evaluation at OpenAI. You’ll manage distributed data pipelines, collaborate closely with researchers to translate requirements into robust systems, and harden pipelines that serve as the backbone for Sora’s rapid iteration cycles.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain data infrastructure systems such as distributed compute, data orchestration, distributed storage, streaming infrastructure, and machine learning infrastructure while ensuring scalability, reliability, and security.
• Ensure the data platform can scale by orders of magnitude while remaining reliable and efficient.
• Partner with researchers to deeply understand requirements and translate them into production-ready systems.
• Harden, optimize, and maintain critical data infrastructure systems that power multimodal training and evaluation.

Requirements / Who You Are

• Strong experience with distributed systems and large-scale infrastructure with a strong interest in data.
• Detail-oriented and rigorous in building and maintaining reliable systems.
• Excellent software engineering fundamentals and organizational skills.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change.

Technologies & Skills Mentioned

• Distributed systems
• Distributed compute
• Data orchestration
• Distributed storage
• Streaming infrastructure
• Machine learning infrastructure
• Large-scale data pipelines
• Scalability, reliability, and security
• Collaboration with research teams

About OpenAI & Additional Details

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. The posting includes equal opportunity and non-discrimination statements, information on background checks (in accordance with applicable law), and accommodation request links for applicants with disabilities.

Benefits

• Base pay range listed for this role and offers equity. (See posting for the specific salary range.)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid parental leave and paid medical/caregiver leave.
• Paid time off (flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees).
• 13+ paid company holidays and multiple company office closures per year.
• 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 (charitable donation matching, wellness stipends) as applicable.

For more details about benefits and compensation philosophy, candidates are directed to information provided during the hiring process.