Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - SF

About this role

OpenAI seeks a Forward Deployed Engineer to lead end-to-end production deployments of frontier AI models with strategic customers in San Francisco. You'll own the full lifecycle from discovery through rollout, working at the intersection of customer needs and platform development while gathering feedback that shapes product direction.

What you'll do

• Lead technical delivery of multiple LLM deployments from prototype to stable production
• Build full-stack systems that deliver measurable customer value and enable learning
• Partner closely with customer teams to understand requirements and drive adoption
• Scope work, sequence delivery, and identify blockers early to protect timelines
• Contribute code directly when needed and codify working patterns into reusable tools
• Share field insights with Research and Product teams on model performance and gaps

What they're looking for

• 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience with customer engagement
• Production-grade code in Python, JavaScript, or similar full-stack languages
• Experience building or deploying LLM or generative model systems
• Complex system design and delivery in fast-moving, ambiguous environments
• Clear communication across engineers, product, and non-technical stakeholders
• Rapid decision-making and risk identification under pressure
• Ability to simplify complexity and balance scope, speed, and quality

Benefits

• Hybrid work model with 3 days per week in San Francisco office
• Relocation assistance provided
• Direct partnership with AI research and deployment at the frontier