Software Engineer Internship / Co-Op, Applied Emerging Talent (Fall 2026)

Details

The Applied team works across research, engineering, product, and design to bring OpenAI’s technology to the world. The team focuses on learning from deployment and broadly distributing the benefits of AI while ensuring responsible and safe use. The team aims to make tools globally accessible and studies how people use products to inform design and deployment.

This is a 15-week, paid, in-person internship based in OpenAI's San Francisco, CA office during Fall 2026. Candidates will work in a highly iterative, collaborative, fast-paced environment to build customer-facing features and product experiences at scale.

Responsibilities

• Build new customer-facing ChatGPT and OpenAI API features and product experiences end-to-end.
• Collaborate with a cross-functional team of engineers, researchers, product managers, designers, and operations to create cutting-edge products.
• Optimize applications for speed and scale.
• Contribute to a diverse and inclusive culture that makes all feel welcome.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a relevant technical field.
• Must have at least one semester of schooling remaining after completion of the internship.
• Proficiency with JavaScript and React; experience building frontend applications.
• Experience with backend languages; OpenAI notes usage of Python.
• Some experience with relational databases such as PostgreSQL or MySQL.
• Interest in AI/ML (direct experience is not required).
• Ability to move fast in an environment where tasks may be loosely defined and priorities may shift.

Compensation & Logistics

• Pay: $60 per hour.
• This is a full-time, on-site internship in San Francisco, CA (15 weeks, Fall 2026).
• Employment type: Full-time (internship/co-op). Hours are consistent with a full-time internship schedule.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts: Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter accounts (parking and transit).
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid parental leave and paid medical/caregiver leave (detailed in posting).
• Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees.
• 13+ paid company holidays and additional coordinated company 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 and human-centered design in AI systems and is an equal opportunity employer. Background checks and applicable fair chance considerations apply for US-based candidates. OpenAI provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.