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Software Engineer, Backend - job 1 of 4

About the Team

We bring OpenAI's technology to the world through products like ChatGPT and the OpenAI API.

We seek to learn from deployment and distribute the benefits of AI, while ensuring that this powerful tool is used responsibly and safely. Safety is more important to us than unfettered growth.

About the Role

As OpenAI scales, we’re looking for experienced, problem-solving engineers to build new products and scale our systems. Our success depends on our ability to quickly iterate on products while also ensuring that they are performant and reliable.

You’ll work in a deeply iterative, collaborative, fast-paced environment to bring our technology to millions of users around the world, and ensure it’s delivered with safety and reliability in mind. 

 In this role, you will:

  • Design and build the development and production platforms that power ChatGPT, enabling reliability and security at scale

  • Partner with researchers, engineers, product managers, and designers to bring new features and research capabilities to the world

  • Accelerate engineering productivity by empowering your fellow engineers with excellent tooling and systems

  • Help create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture that makes all feel welcome while enabling radical candor and the challenging of group think

  • Like all other teams, we are responsible for the reliability of the systems we build. This includes an on-call rotation to respond to critical incidents as needed

You might thrive in this role if you:

  • Have meaningful experience with building (and rebuilding) production systems to deliver new product capabilities and to handle increasing scale

  • Care deeply about the end user experience and take pride in building products to solve customer needs

  • Have a humble attitude, an eagerness to help your colleagues, and a desire to do whatever it takes to make the team succeed

  • Own problems end-to-end, and are willing to pick up whatever knowledge you're missing to get the job done

  • Build tools to accelerate your own (and your teammates’) workflows, but only when off-the-shelf solutions won’t do

  • Have been a startup founder or an early-stage engineer

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. 

OpenAI Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement

For US Based Candidates: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.

OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy

At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

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CEO of OpenAI
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Average salary estimate

$150000 / YEARLY (est.)
min
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$120000K
$180000K

If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.

What You Should Know About Software Engineer, Backend, OpenAI

At OpenAI, we're on a mission to share our cutting-edge technology with the world, and that's why we're looking for a talented Software Engineer, Backend to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will become a key player in developing and enhancing our platforms, including the renowned ChatGPT and the OpenAI API. Your work will directly impact how users experience AI technology, so if you're passionate about building reliable and scalable systems, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. You'll collaborate closely with researchers, engineers, product managers, and designers, continuously iterating to deliver new features while ensuring safety and reliability remain at the forefront. The environment is fast-paced and highly collaborative, which means you'll have the chance to thrive alongside equally passionate professionals. Are you someone who takes pride in creating tools that boost productivity? Do you deeply care about the end-user experience? If so, we want to empower you to own problems from start to finish, advocate for your teammates, and play a vital role in building a diverse and inclusive culture at OpenAI. With on-call responsibilities to ensure our systems remain robust, you'll be a meaningful part of a team that believes AI should be beneficial to all of humanity. If you're an experienced software engineer looking to make a difference, we encourage you to join us in shaping the future of technology at OpenAI.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Software Engineer, Backend Role at OpenAI
What skills are essential for a Software Engineer, Backend at OpenAI?

To excel in the Software Engineer, Backend role at OpenAI, candidates should have significant experience in building robust production systems and be familiar with programming languages and frameworks that support scalable architectures. Understanding cloud services and backend technologies is crucial since you'll be designing systems for products like ChatGPT. A collaborative spirit and a humble attitude toward learning and helping your team are also key attributes that we value.

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What are the responsibilities of a Software Engineer, Backend at OpenAI?

As a Software Engineer, Backend at OpenAI, your primary responsibilities will include designing and developing platforms that ensure the reliability and performance of our products, such as ChatGPT. You'll work closely with cross-functional teams to implement features based on research, build tools for engineering productivity, and participate in an on-call rotation to manage system reliability. This role requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to creating an inclusive workplace.

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What qualifications do I need to apply for the Software Engineer, Backend position at OpenAI?

To apply for the Software Engineer, Backend position at OpenAI, you should have a solid background in software engineering, demonstrated through previous work experience in building scalable production systems. While a degree in a relevant field like Computer Science can be beneficial, practical experience and a portfolio of your work may weigh equally. Additionally, prior experience with collaborative and iterative development processes will be highly valued.

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How does OpenAI ensure a safe environment for its technologies?

OpenAI prioritizes safety and responsibility in deploying AI technologies. As a Software Engineer, Backend, you'll be part of creating systems that embed safety measures in the technology. This involves collaborating with product teams to ensure every released feature is scrutinized for reliability and security. OpenAI actively adheres to policies aimed at ensuring fair opportunity and diversity within our workforce, making it a safe space for all contributors.

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What is the team culture like for a Software Engineer, Backend at OpenAI?

The team culture for Software Engineers, Backend at OpenAI is characterized by collaboration, inclusivity, and a shared goal of making AI safe and beneficial for all. You'll find a fast-paced and iterative work environment that encourages open dialogue and constructive feedback. Team members are seen as partners in the mission, with an emphasis on supporting one another's growth while creating innovative solutions together.

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Common Interview Questions for Software Engineer, Backend
Can you explain your experience with building production systems as a Software Engineer?

When answering this question, highlight specific projects where you played a crucial role in building or scaling production systems. Discuss the challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Emphasize your understanding of performance optimization and reliability, connecting your experience with OpenAI's need for systems that support ChatGPT and other products.

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How do you ensure that the end-user experience is prioritized in your development process?

Explain your approach to user-centered design and how you collect user feedback to inform your product development. Share any examples where your interventions improved the user's experience and how you advocate for user needs throughout the design and implementation process, linking these efforts to OpenAI's mission.

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Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Share an example that illustrates your communication skills and ability to work harmoniously with team members such as designers, product managers, or researchers. Discuss how you navigated differing perspectives to reach a common goal and how that approach aligns with OpenAI's team collaboration ethos.

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What tools do you typically use to enhance engineering productivity?

Discuss specific tools or platforms you've implemented or used in the past to optimize workflows. Explain how you evaluate whether to build a custom tool or leverage existing solutions. Relate this back to how you can apply this mindset at OpenAI to improve development cycles for teams.

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How comfortable are you with on-call responsibilities for system reliability?

Express your understanding of the importance of on-call duties and provide examples of past experiences handling critical incidents. Highlight how you manage stress in urgent situations and your commitment to maintaining system uptime as part of OpenAI's mission.

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What does inclusive culture mean to you as a Software Engineer?

Talk about your views on creating an inclusive work environment and share specific practices you support, such as mentorship or accessible communication. Connecting your philosophy to OpenAI’s commitment to diversity will show that you align with the company’s culture.

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Share an example of a technical project you are proud of.

Select a project that showcases your skills relevant to the Software Engineer role at OpenAI. Discuss the problem it solved, your specific contributions, and the impact it had on users or the business, ensuring to highlight any collaboration with other teams.

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How do you keep up with current trends in software engineering?

Outline your strategies for staying informed about industry trends, such as attending conferences, participating in webinars, or engaging with online communities. Emphasize your commitment to continuous learning, which resonates with OpenAI's innovative culture.

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What programming languages are you most proficient in, and why?

Discuss the key programming languages you are comfortable with and how they apply to the projects at OpenAI. Mention any relevant frameworks or libraries you have used and support your answer with practical examples of how these languages helped you solve specific engineering challenges.

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How do you approach problem-solving in your engineering projects?

Share your structured approach to tackling complex engineering problems. Discuss how you break down tasks, analyze requirements, and iterate on solutions. Relate this to how OpenAI seeks engineers who can own problems end-to-end and contribute to innovative solutions.

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OpenAI is a US based, private research laboratory that aims to develop and direct AI. It is one of the leading Artifical Intellgence organizations and has developed several large AI language models including ChatGPT.

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CULTURE VALUES
Inclusive & Diverse
Feedback Forward
Collaboration over Competition
Growth & Learning
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EMPLOYMENT TYPE
Full-time, remote
DATE POSTED
March 12, 2025

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