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OpenAI

Software Engineer, API Agents

San Francisco$293k–$385kfulltimemidAdded today

About this role

OpenAI seeks an experienced backend engineer to build core infrastructure powering the next generation of AI agents. You'll design reliable systems enabling agents to access context, execute tools, coordinate workflows, and operate safely across products—translating research progress into production primitives.

What you'll do

  • Design and operate shared agent harness and backend infrastructure for long-running, high-value workflows
  • Build reusable capabilities for search, context retrieval, computer use, memory, tool execution, and multi-agent orchestration
  • Establish production safety foundations including secure execution, identity, permissions, observability, and evaluations
  • Partner with Research, Codex, infrastructure, and product teams to translate model capabilities into measurable improvements
  • Lead complex systems from ambiguous requirements to reliable, performant production services
  • Mentor developers and establish abstractions that simplify agent capabilities for internal and external use

What they're looking for

  • Backend engineering (Python, Go, Rust, TypeScript, or similar)
  • Distributed systems design and APIs
  • Workflow orchestration and async task management
  • Search, storage, and data infrastructure
  • Identity, permissions, and security
  • Observability, monitoring, and reliability engineering
  • Systems design and operational judgment
  • Developer empathy and cross-team communication
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OpenAI

OpenAI builds AI infrastructure and products, including large-scale data center campuses for AI computing and generative AI applications for enterprise customers. The company is hiring civil engineers, project engineers, electrical design engineers, data center R&D engineers, and AI deployment engineers to expand its infrastructure capabilities and help customers deploy AI solutions.

View all jobs at OpenAI

Likely interview questions

  • Walk us through a complex backend system you've designed from scratch—what were the key trade-offs and how did you validate your approach?
  • Describe your experience building or operating infrastructure for long-running, asynchronous workflows. How did you handle failures and durability?
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