Software Engineer, Inference - Performance Optimization

Details

Our team analyzes inference stack performance across the application, model, and fleet layers to identify bottlenecks and drive faster, cheaper inference. We combine systems profiling, benchmarking, and analysis to understand where time and cost are spent, then turn that understanding into performance optimizations and models that project performance and capacity needs for future launches.

In this role, you will model inference performance across application, model, and fleet layers with higher fidelity. You will build cost-to-serve estimates from microbenchmarks and create tools that help cross-functional teams reason about latency, capacity, utilization, and cost tradeoffs.

Responsibilities

• Build and refine performance models that translate microbenchmark results into cost-to-serve estimates.
• Analyze inference workloads end to end across applications, models, and fleet infrastructure.
• Enhance tooling to identify bottlenecks across layers for latency and throughput.
• Partner with other teams to turn performance insights into concrete improvements and project how future changes affect inference.

Requirements

• Interest in reasoning from first principles about distributed systems, model inference, and hardware efficiency.
• Comfort working across abstraction layers, from application behavior to kernels, accelerators, networking, and fleet scheduling.
• Deep expertise with performance profiling, benchmarking, analysis, and optimization.
• Enjoyment of collaborating with engineering and research teams to improve real production systems.

About OpenAI

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

Benefits

• Base salary of $295,000–$555,000, plus equity.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts for health, dependent care, and commuter expenses.
• 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 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.