← All roles

Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - SF

OpenAI· Forward Deployed Engineering
Apply on company site
Hybrid (San Francisco)$185k - $300kFull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Forward Deployed Engineers lead complex end-to-end deployments of frontier models in production, partnering with customers to design, build, and rollout solutions, and measuring success through production adoption and impact.

Responsibilities

  • Own technical delivery across multiple deployments from first prototype to stable production
  • Build full-stack systems that deliver customer value and sharpen how we learn
  • Embed closely with customer teams, understand their needs, and guide adoption of what you build
  • Scope work, sequence delivery, and remove blockers early
  • Make trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality; adjust plans to protect delivery
  • Contribute directly in the code when progress or clarity depends on it
  • Codify working patterns into tools, playbooks, or building blocks that others can use
  • Share field feedback that helps Research and Product understand where the models succeed and where they can improve
  • Keep teams moving through clarity and follow-through

Qualifications

  • Bring 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience that includes customer-facing work
  • Have scoped and delivered complex systems in fast-moving or ambiguous environments
  • Write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend using Python, JavaScript, or comparable stacks
  • Have built or deployed systems powered by LLMs or generative models and understand how model behaviour affects product experience
  • Simplify complexity and make fast, sound decisions under pressure
  • Communicate clearly with engineers, product teams, and customer stakeholders
  • Spot risks early and adjust without slowing down
  • Model calm and judgment when the stakes are high

Skills

Required:Engineering or technical deploymentProduction-grade code (frontend/backend)LLMs / generative models

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 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

ai-infrastructure-and-developmentliquid-ai-recruiting-targetllmsetter-30setter-30-2026-q1speech-to-texttext-to-speechvoice-ai-stack
Company profileWebsite

More open roles at OpenAI