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Backend Software Engineer, ChatGPT ImageGen

OpenAI· Applied AI
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Hybrid (San Francisco)$185k - $305k + equityFull-timePosted 4mo ago

About the role

Backend Engineer role on the Image Generation team responsible for powering image creation and editing features within ChatGPT, building scalable backend systems, APIs, and infrastructure to support multimodal AI workloads for billions of image generations and editing workflows.

Responsibilities

  • Design, build, and operate backend systems that power image generation and image editing experiences in ChatGPT.
  • Develop scalable APIs, services, and infrastructure that support multimodal AI workflows.
  • Optimize reliability, latency, throughput, and cost across large-scale distributed systems.
  • Partner with researchers to productionize new image generation capabilities and bring them to users quickly and safely.
  • Collaborate closely with Android, iOS, web, and full-stack engineers to build seamless end-to-end product experiences.
  • Drive technical architecture decisions across storage, serving, orchestration, and platform systems.
  • Use data and experimentation to identify opportunities for improving user experience, performance, and system efficiency.
  • Help shape engineering culture through technical leadership, mentorship, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

  • Have experience building and operating large-scale backend or distributed systems.
  • Have strong proficiency in modern backend technologies and cloud-native architectures.
  • Enjoy working across the stack and partnering closely with product and research teams.
  • Have experience designing APIs, service-oriented architectures, and highly reliable production systems.
  • Are highly analytical and enjoy using data to inform technical and product decisions.
  • Have a strong sense of ownership and are comfortable navigating ambiguity in fast-moving environments.
  • Are excited by multimodal AI and the opportunity to help define the infrastructure powering the future of visual creation.
  • Have a deep curiosity about how cutting-edge AI research can be translated into products that reach millions of users.

Skills

Required:Backend developmentAPI designCloud-native architectures

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts
  • Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses (parking and transit)
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
  • Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents), plus paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)
  • Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
  • 13+ paid company holidays, and multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge, plus paid sick or safe time
  • Mental health and wellness support
  • Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage
  • Annual learning and development stipend
  • Daily meals in our offices, and meal delivery credits as eligible
  • Relocation support for eligible employees
  • Additional taxable fringe benefits, such as charitable donation matching and wellness stipends
Last updated Sep 17, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About OpenAI

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