System Software Engineer

As a System Software Engineer at OpenAI, you'll be tasked with designing, developing, and maintaining firmware and software for supercomputer hardware manageability. This includes a focus on BMC, Redfish, and secure boot among other areas. You'll work closely with hardware teams and external vendors to define and develop diagnostics while monitoring vendor firmware developments.

To be a suitable candidate for the System Software Engineer position at OpenAI, you should have experience with OpenBMC, proficiency in programming languages such as C, C++, and Rust, and a strong grasp of hardware interfaces like I2C, SPI, PCIe, Ethernet, and USB. Additionally, you should possess embedded systems expertise and ideally have a background in managing vendor relationships.

At OpenAI, a System Software Engineer will work with low-level software, including BMC software and firmware for supercomputer hardware. The role involves working with advanced diagnostic and qualification software, as well as integrating BMC monitoring software into fleet-wide management systems for improved manageability and performance.

OpenAI fosters a collaborative environment for System Software Engineers by promoting cross-functional teamwork with hardware, system architecture, power, and cooling teams. They provide support to ensure mass production readiness and the scalability of software solutions, encouraging innovation in firmware architecture to meet performance and security needs.

The work environment at OpenAI for System Software Engineers is dynamic and collaborative, centered around pushing the boundaries of AI technology. Engaging with cutting-edge tools and technologies while working within an inclusive team of experts makes it an exciting and supportive place to grow your skills and contribute meaningful advancements.

Showcasing your experience with OpenBMC is crucial. Discuss the specific projects where you utilized OpenBMC and how that experience can directly contribute to enhancing firmware and manageability software at OpenAI. Employers appreciate candidates who can connect their past experiences to future team goals.

A solid approach to debugging firmware involves a combination of thorough testing, utilizing debugging tools, and collaborative problem-solving. Explain your methodical steps and emphasize any situations where your debugging skills led to the successful resolution of firmware issues.

Be prepared to discuss your proficiency in C, C++, and Rust. Highlight how you have used these languages in real-world projects, particularly in embedded systems, and mention any relevant frameworks or libraries to show your depth of knowledge.

Illustrate a specific example where your proactive communication and organizational skills fostered a successful partnership with a vendor. Focus on how you defined deliverables and ensured compliance with technical standards, ultimately benefiting the project outcome.

Discuss general strategies such as implementing efficient cooling solutions and optimizing workload distribution. Tie your answer to specific experiences where you successfully applied these strategies in previous projects, showcasing your practical knowledge.

Talk about your commitment to continuous learning through resources such as industry publications, webinars, and professional networks. Mention any certifications or training that illustrate your dedication to keeping abreast of security advancements relevant to embedded systems.

Discuss the techniques you use to implement bootloaders effectively, emphasizing optimization tactics that enhance performance and security. Providing specific examples where you've encountered challenges and overcome them will strengthen your answer.

Detail your hands-on experience with fleet management software, focusing on the challenges faced and how you addressed them. Highlight any metrics or outcomes that demonstrate your effectiveness in managing fleets for better performance monitoring and control.

Outline a systematic integration approach that includes planning, testing, and validation protocols. Explain any tools or methodologies you've used in the past and how they resulted in successful integrations.

Share your strategies, which may include robust documentation reviews, iterative testing, and regular communication with vendors to clarify expectations. Provide examples where these strategies led to better outcomes in previous roles.