OpenAI

Backend Engineer, Consumer Devices

OpenAI1 months ago
Location

San Francisco

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 293,000 – 325,000

Level

Senior

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

Jan 20, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

OpenAI is seeking a Backend Engineer to design and build scalable, secure backend systems for Consumer Devices, working with Python and Go in a hybrid San Francisco environment. This role requires 7+ years of backend experience and involves architecting high-performance systems that support evolving product needs from hardware to cloud infrastructure.

What you'll do

System Architecture: Architect, build, and maintain high-performance, secure backend systems
API Development: Design APIs, data models, and infrastructure to support evolving product needs
Technical Balance: Balance near-term development velocity with long-term maintainability and scalability
Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with product, hardware, and full-stack teams to ensure cohesive, end-to-end solutions
Infrastructure Design: Build scalable infrastructure that enables fast iteration while supporting long-term growth
Performance Optimization: Optimize system performance and ensure security best practices across all backend services
Technical Decision Making: Guide technical decisions with end-to-end context from hardware to cloud infrastructure

What we look for

Technical

Backend Systems Experience7+ years of professional software engineering experience with focus on backend systems
Python ProficiencyStrong proficiency in Python for backend development
Go ProgrammingProficiency in Go programming language for high-performance systems
System DesignStrong grasp of system design principles and architecture patterns
Performance OptimizationExperience with performance optimization and scalability techniques
Security Best PracticesKnowledge of security best practices for backend systems

Education

Computer Science DegreeBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field preferred

Experience

Scaling SystemsProven track record of building and scaling systems from early stage to large scale
Server-side TechnologiesFamiliarity with a range of server-side technologies and frameworks
Full-stack UnderstandingAbility to reason about full-stack tradeoffs from hardware through cloud infrastructure

Skills

Required skills

PythonAdvanced proficiency in Python for backend development
GoStrong experience with Go programming language
System ArchitectureAbility to design and architect scalable backend systems
API DesignExperience designing RESTful APIs and data models
Performance OptimizationSkills in optimizing system performance and scalability
SecurityKnowledge of backend security best practices and implementation

Nice to have

Distributed SystemsExperience with distributed systems and cloud architectures
InstrumentationBackground in instrumentation, analytics, and performance tuning
Hardware-Cloud IntegrationFamiliarity with hardware-cloud integrations or applied AI services
Cloud PlatformsExperience with AWS, GCP, or Azure cloud infrastructure
Container TechnologiesKnowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, and container orchestration

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 293,000 – 325,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Stock options and equity participation in OpenAI's growth

Hybrid Work Model

Four days in office per week with one day remote flexibility

Relocation Assistance

Comprehensive relocation support for new employees moving to San Francisco

Health Insurance

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Professional Development

Opportunities to work on cutting-edge AI technology and continuous learning

Equal Opportunity

Inclusive workplace with equal opportunity employment practices

Interview process

  1. 1
    Application Review — Initial screening of resume, portfolio, and application materials
  2. 2
    Recruiter Phone Screen — 30-minute conversation about background, interest, and role alignment
  3. 3
    Technical Phone Interview — 60-minute technical discussion covering system design and coding concepts
  4. 4
    Take-home Technical Assessment — Practical coding exercise demonstrating backend development skills
  5. 5
    Onsite Technical Interviews — Multiple rounds covering system design, coding, and architectural discussions
  6. 6
    Behavioral Interview — Cultural fit assessment focusing on collaboration and problem-solving approach
  7. 7
    Final Interview — Meeting with senior leadership to discuss vision alignment and role expectations
Apply for this position

You'll be redirected to the company's application page

OpenAI

OpenAI

View all jobs

OpenAI is an American artificial intelligence research organization developing advanced AI models like GPT. Focused on ensuring AI benefits humanity, it creates tools for natural language processing and generative AI applications.

San Francisco, California, United StatesFounded 2015openai.com

Tech Stack

Languages
PythonGo
Frameworks
API Development FrameworksMicroservices Frameworks
Databases
Distributed DatabasesTime Series Databases
Tools
Cloud InfrastructureContainer OrchestrationMonitoring ToolsCI/CD Pipelines
Other
Distributed SystemsHardware-Cloud Integration

Interview Guides

5 guides available for OpenAI

Apply Now

On this page