OpenAI

Forward Deployed Engineer - Dublin

OpenAI10 months ago
Location

Dublin, Ireland

Type

Full Time

Salary

EUR 180,000 – 280,000

Level

Senior

Role

Lead Engineer

Posted

Sep 23, 2025

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Forward Deployed Engineers at OpenAI lead complex end-to-end deployments of frontier large language models and generative AI systems in production alongside strategic customers, owning discovery through production rollout. This Senior role requires 5+ years of full-stack engineering experience with customer-facing deployment expertise, proficiency in Python and JavaScript backend/frontend systems, and proven success building production systems powered by LLMs in fast-moving environments. Based in Dublin with hybrid arrangements and up to 50% travel, the position bridges customer delivery and core platform development, delivering measurable workflow impact and eval-driven feedback that shapes product and model roadmaps.

What you'll do

End-to-End Technical Delivery Ownership: Own complete technical delivery lifecycle for multiple concurrent deployments of frontier models in production environments, from initial prototype and discovery phases through stable production release, ensuring systems meet strategic customer requirements and operational excellence standards.
Full-Stack System Design and Development: Design and build full-stack systems that deliver measurable customer value while generating eval-driven feedback, requiring expertise across frontend interfaces, backend services, API integration, and model deployment pipelines that sharpen organizational learning.
Customer Partnership and Adoption Leadership: Embed deeply with customer engineering and domain teams to understand nuanced requirements, guide strategic adoption of deployed systems, and establish working relationships that drive workflow transformation and business outcomes.
Technical Scoping and Execution Planning: Scope complex work with precision, sequence delivery milestones strategically, identify and remove technical blockers early, and make informed trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality to protect delivery timelines and system reliability.
Production-Grade Code Contribution: Contribute directly to codebase implementation when technical progress or system clarity requires it, maintaining production-grade standards across Python, JavaScript, and comparable technology stacks for both backend and frontend components.
Pattern Codification and Knowledge Transfer: Capture successful deployment patterns, customer learnings, and operational insights into reusable tools, playbooks, and building blocks that accelerate future deployments and multiply team capability across the organization.
Model Feedback and Product Insight: Synthesize field observations and production telemetry to provide Research and Product teams with actionable insights on where large language models succeed in real-world scenarios and where capability improvements would unlock customer value.
Cross-Functional Collaboration and Clarity: Maintain team momentum and organizational alignment by providing clear communication, reliable follow-through, and structured decision-making across Product, Research, Partnerships, GRC, Security, and GTM teams in complex, ambiguous situations.

What we look for

Technical

Production-Grade Full-Stack DevelopmentDemonstrated expertise writing and reviewing production-grade code across both frontend and backend systems using Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, or comparable technology stacks, with strong software engineering fundamentals and code quality standards.
LLM and Generative Model SystemsHands-on experience building or deploying production systems powered by large language models or generative models, including understanding of how model behavior, latency, cost, and output quality directly impact product experience and customer outcomes.
Complex System Architecture and DesignProven ability to design, scope, and deliver complex distributed systems in production environments, including API design, system integration, database architecture, and consideration of scalability, reliability, and security requirements.
DevOps and Production OperationsExperience with deployment automation, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure management, monitoring, observability, and incident response, with ability to own systems from development through stable production operation.
Customer Integration and APIsExperience integrating with external systems, building customer-facing APIs, handling authentication and data security, and managing technical dependencies across organizational boundaries in production environments.

Education

Computer Science or Related Technical FieldBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical discipline is preferred; equivalent demonstrable experience through continuous learning and professional achievement may be considered.

Experience

5+ Years Engineering and Deployment ExperienceMinimum five years of hands-on software engineering experience with significant customer-facing technical work, including involvement in customer discovery, requirements translation, technical architecture, and production system deployment.
Complex Systems in Ambiguous EnvironmentsDemonstrated success scoping and delivering complex systems in fast-moving, ambiguous, or research-oriented environments where requirements evolve, priorities shift, and technical uncertainty requires sound judgment and adaptability.
Strategic Customer PartnershipsExperience building strong technical relationships with customer engineering teams, translating business requirements into technical solutions, guiding product adoption, and driving measurable business impact through technology delivery.
Cross-Functional Technical LeadershipTrack record of collaborating effectively with product managers, researchers, security teams, and other technical stakeholders to align on technical decisions, remove organizational blockers, and maintain delivery momentum under pressure.
Decision-Making Under PressureDemonstrated ability to simplify complexity, make sound technical trade-offs with incomplete information, maintain calm judgment when stakes are high, and spot technical and delivery risks before they impact customers.

Skills

Required skills

Python ProgrammingProduction-level Python development for backend systems, data processing, and integration, including understanding of async patterns, testing, performance optimization, and integration with ML/LLM frameworks.
JavaScript/TypeScriptProficiency in JavaScript or TypeScript for frontend development, Node.js backend systems, and full-stack implementation, including modern frameworks and tooling for building responsive user interfaces.
System Design and ArchitectureAbility to design scalable, reliable distributed systems with consideration for API contracts, data flow, failure modes, performance characteristics, security boundaries, and operational requirements.
LLM Application DevelopmentHands-on experience building production applications that leverage large language models, including prompt engineering, managing model output quality, cost optimization, latency considerations, and measuring model performance impact.
Customer Discovery and Requirements TranslationAbility to conduct technical discovery with customers, translate business needs into technical requirements, scope solutions appropriately, and communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
Production Deployment and OperationsExperience deploying systems to production including infrastructure setup, CI/CD pipeline configuration, monitoring and alerting, incident response, and maintaining system reliability at scale.
Technical Communication and Stakeholder ManagementClear written and verbal communication skills for explaining technical decisions to diverse audiences, creating documentation, leading technical discussions, and maintaining alignment across distributed teams.

Nice to have

API and Integration ExperienceExperience designing and implementing APIs (REST, GraphQL), managing third-party integrations, handling authentication/authorization, and building extensible systems that connect across organizational boundaries.
ML Operations and Model DeploymentFamiliarity with ML operations practices, model serving infrastructure, A/B testing for model variants, monitoring model performance in production, and understanding the unique challenges of deploying ML systems.
Frontend Framework ExpertiseDeep experience with modern frontend frameworks (React, Vue, Angular) including state management, component architecture, performance optimization, and building user experiences that effectively present model outputs.
Database and Data ArchitectureExperience designing database schemas, choosing appropriate database technologies (relational, document, vector), query optimization, and managing data consistency in production systems at scale.
Cloud Infrastructure and DevOpsExperience with cloud platforms (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure), infrastructure as code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation), container orchestration (Kubernetes), and building automated, scalable infrastructure.
Enterprise Security and ComplianceUnderstanding of security best practices, data protection requirements, compliance frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA), secure coding patterns, and ability to embed security considerations into system architecture.
Agile Delivery and Project ManagementExperience with agile methodologies, sprint planning, managing technical debt, prioritization frameworks, and maintaining delivery momentum while balancing competing priorities and stakeholder needs.

Compensation & benefits

Salary

EUR 180,000 – 280,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Competitive Equity Compensation

Meaningful stock options providing ownership stake in OpenAI aligned with employee success and company growth in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Comprehensive Health and Wellness Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage with competitive plans, mental health resources, wellness programs, and support for overall employee wellbeing.

Flexible Hybrid Work Arrangement

Three days per week in Dublin office with flexibility for remote work, enabling work-life balance while maintaining strong collaboration with team and customers.

Professional Development and Learning

Access to educational resources, conference attendance support, technical training, and opportunities to work with cutting-edge AI technologies and research.

Relocation Assistance

Comprehensive support for relocating to Dublin including visa sponsorship guidance, housing assistance, and resources for international move logistics.

Generous Paid Time Off

Competitive vacation and sick leave policies with flexibility to maintain work-life balance and take time for personal wellbeing and family.

Retirement Planning

Pension scheme and retirement planning support to ensure long-term financial security and wealth building.

Technology and Equipment

High-performance computing equipment, software licenses, and tools required for effective remote and office work with frontier AI systems.

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OpenAI

OpenAI

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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
PythonJavaScript/TypeScriptSQL
Frameworks
ReactFastAPI or DjangoNext.js
Databases
PostgreSQLRedisVector Databases
Tools
Git and GitHubDocker and ContainerizationCI/CD PlatformsMonitoring and ObservabilityAPI Development Tools
Other
Large Language Model APIsPrompt Engineering and OptimizationSystem Integration and MiddlewareDeployment Automation and Infrastructure as Code

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