NOC Technician, Public Sector

As a NOC Technician at OpenAI, your responsibilities include monitoring infrastructure and Kubernetes-based applications in classified environments, swiftly responding to incidents and performance issues. You'll collaborate with engineering teams to deploy, manage, and optimize containerized applications while ensuring thorough testing and compliance with security protocols during software releases.

To qualify for the NOC Technician role at OpenAI, you should hold an active Q or TS/SCI security clearance, have over 5 years of experience in managing infrastructure within classified environments, and demonstrate strong skills in application observability tools like Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk, and ELK.

NOC Technicians at OpenAI utilize various tools for application observability and troubleshooting, including Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk, and the ELK stack. These tools are essential for monitoring performance and managing incidents effectively in classified environments.

OpenAI ensures security compliance in the NOC Technician role through rigorous adherence to frameworks like NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, and CMMC. NOC Technicians play an active role in enforcing security best practices such as least privilege access and conducting integrity checks on software deployments.

The work environment for a NOC Technician at OpenAI is dynamic and high-stakes, focused on maintaining operational excellence in classified settings. You’ll be part of a collaborative team, working closely with engineering, security, and compliance departments to ensure that AI technology is deployed safely and responsibly.

In your response, focus on specific examples where you've deployed, managed, and observed Kubernetes applications within classified settings. Discuss the tools you used for monitoring and any challenges you faced in compliance and security.

Emphasize your thorough understanding of security protocols and compliance requirements. You could mention the steps you take to test software releases, the documentation processes you follow, and how you ensure your team adheres to strict security standards.

Discuss specific observability tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and Splunk. Share examples of how you've used these tools to identify issues, monitor performance, and ensure uptime for critical applications.

Share a concrete example, detailing the nature of the incident, your immediate actions to address it, and how you collaborated with other teams. Highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure.

Outline key security practices such as role-based access controls, incident response protocols, and physical security measures. Discuss how these practices have been integral to your work in maintaining a secure environment.

Highlight your commitment to continuous learning through training courses, certifications, or professional development. Mention specific frameworks like NIST or FedRAMP and how you've applied this knowledge in your role.

Explain your process for maintaining detailed and audit-ready documentation. Describe how organized documentation contributes to the accountability and security compliance of operations within a classified environment.

Discuss your method for task prioritization, including using automated monitoring alerts, assessing the impact of incidents, and collaborating with team members. Provide an example of how this approach has helped you manage workloads effectively.

Discuss specific scenarios where you collaborated with other departments, such as engineering or security teams, to achieve a common goal. Focus on your communication and teamwork skills and the successful outcomes that resulted.

Mention challenges such as ensuring compliance and security in rapidly evolving AI environments, the demand for proactive monitoring with AI applications, and managing incidents that may arise from sensitive data handling. Discuss strategies for overcoming these challenges.