Software Engineer, Backend

OpenAI is seeking an experienced Backend Software Engineer to join their Applied AI department, working on scaling and improving their groundbreaking products like ChatGPT and the OpenAI API. This role offers a competitive salary range of $255K-$405K plus equity and comprehensive benefits.

The position involves working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where you'll be responsible for building and maintaining the development and production platforms that power ChatGPT. You'll focus on ensuring system reliability and security at scale while collaborating with cross-functional teams including researchers, product managers, and designers to bring new features and capabilities to users worldwide.

The ideal candidate should have substantial experience in building and scaling production systems, with a strong focus on end-user experience and system reliability. You'll be part of an on-call rotation handling critical incidents and will need to demonstrate ownership of problems end-to-end. The role requires both technical expertise and strong collaborative skills, with an emphasis on helping colleagues and contributing to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture.

OpenAI offers an exceptional benefits package including comprehensive health coverage, mental health support, generous parental leave (24 weeks for birth parents), 401(k) matching, and an annual learning stipend. The company's mission focuses on ensuring AI benefits humanity, with a strong emphasis on safety over unfettered growth.

This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of AI technology, helping to shape the future of one of the most influential AI companies while ensuring their powerful tools are used responsibly and safely. The role combines technical challenges with meaningful impact, making it ideal for engineers who want to contribute to groundbreaking AI development while maintaining a focus on ethical deployment and societal benefits.