OpenAI

Forward Deployed Software Engineer - Munich

OpenAI8 months ago
Location

Munich, Germany

Type

Full Time

Salary

EUR 130,000 – 190,000

Level

Senior

Role

Forward Deployed Engineer

Posted

Nov 20, 2025

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Forward Deployed Software Engineer at OpenAI's Munich office focusing on building production systems that leverage OpenAI's APIs to solve complex customer problems. This senior-level role combines full-stack software engineering with deep customer engagement, requiring 7+ years of experience in tech-driven companies with a track record of delivering scalable solutions. The position demands hands-on technical expertise, architectural thinking, and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally with sales, solutions engineering, and product teams to transform AI research into impactful business outcomes.

What you'll do

Strategic Customer Engagement and Requirements Gathering: Embed deeply with strategic enterprise customers to conduct comprehensive technical discovery sessions, understand their business objectives, competitive landscape, and technical constraints. Document detailed requirements specifications, develop scopes of work for both proof-of-concept prototypes and full production deployments, and establish clear success metrics aligned with customer business outcomes.
Full-Stack Solution Design and Development: Architect and develop complete end-to-end solutions leveraging OpenAI's APIs and internal tools, utilizing an experiment-driven iterative approach. Write production-grade code across backend services, database layers, and frontend interfaces. Design abstractions and reusable components that solve customer problems while establishing patterns for scaling across all Forward Deployed engagements.
Hands-On Technical Implementation: Execute development work directly on customer infrastructure, collaborating side-by-side with customers' technical teams as a trusted technical advisor. Debug complex integration issues, optimize system performance, ensure security and compliance requirements are met, and drive projects to completion while maintaining code quality and engineering standards.
Cross-Functional Collaboration and Coordination: Partner closely with Sales, Solutions Engineering, Solutions Architects, and Customer Success Managers on shared accounts. Work with OpenAI Research, Applied Product, and Engineering teams to communicate customer pain points, translate feedback into actionable insights for product development, and ensure seamless customer experiences throughout the engagement lifecycle.
Knowledge Sharing and Process Improvement: Contribute to internal knowledge bases and technical documentation by codifying best practices, documenting architectural patterns, recording lessons learned, and sharing insights from customer engagements. Mentor other Forward Deployed Engineers, establish development standards, and systematically work to improve the quality and velocity of delivery across the entire Forward Deployed Engineering function.
Technical Advocacy and Product Feedback: Serve as voice of the customer by providing detailed technical feedback to Research and Product teams about API limitations, missing features, performance constraints, and market opportunities. Identify patterns across multiple customer engagements that indicate platform improvements or new capabilities that would unlock broader impact.

What we look for

Technical

Full-Stack Development7+ years of hands-on experience building production full-stack applications, spanning backend services, database design, frontend interfaces, and infrastructure considerations
Database ProficiencyAdvanced experience with relational database systems, specifically PostgreSQL or MySQL, including optimization, indexing strategies, and handling complex data relationships
Software ArchitectureDemonstrated ability to design scalable systems, define clear service boundaries, implement proper abstraction layers, and make sound technology decisions
API Design and IntegrationExperience designing and consuming APIs, understanding authentication mechanisms, rate limiting, error handling, and integrating multiple systems cohesively
Version Control and Collaboration ToolsProficiency with Git-based workflows, code review processes, and collaborative development practices in distributed team environments

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Related FieldFormal education in computer science, software engineering, or equivalent field, or demonstrable equivalent professional experience and self-taught expertise

Experience

7+ Years Professional Software EngineeringExtensive experience in full-stack software engineering roles at technology and product-driven companies, preferably with customer-facing components where you've directly engaged with end users
Production System DeliveryProven track record shipping multiple production systems from conception through deployment and maintenance, with experience managing complex technical projects and technical debt
Customer Engagement ExperienceDirect experience working with customers or end users to gather requirements, implement solutions, and iterate based on feedback; ability to balance technical excellence with business timelines
Startup or Early-Stage Environment ExperienceBackground as a founder or early engineer at a startup, demonstrating comfort with ambiguity, rapid decision-making, and building products in resource-constrained environments

Skills

Required skills

Full-Stack Software EngineeringDemonstrated ability to design and implement complete end-to-end solutions from backend APIs to user-facing interfaces, with proven experience shipping production systems at scale
Customer-Centric Problem SolvingTrack record of deeply embedding with customers to understand business challenges, translating requirements into technical solutions, and iterating based on feedback
System Design and ArchitectureExpertise in designing scalable, maintainable software architectures, defining clear abstractions, and making technology trade-off decisions that balance customer needs with technical excellence
Relational Database DesignStrong proficiency with PostgreSQL or MySQL, including query optimization, schema design, and experience managing data at scale in production environments
API Integration and DevelopmentExperience building with and integrating third-party APIs, designing RESTful/GraphQL interfaces, and handling authentication, rate limiting, and error handling patterns
Technical Communication and MentoringAbility to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, document architectural decisions, and mentor junior engineers through hands-on collaboration

Nice to have

LLM and Generative AI ExperiencePrior experience building applications using Large Language Models, understanding token economics, prompt engineering, and AI-specific architectural patterns
Founder or Early-Stage Startup BackgroundEntrepreneurial experience building products from zero to one, demonstrating business acumen, product thinking, and comfort with ambiguity and rapid iteration
Python Backend DevelopmentProficiency in Python with frameworks like FastAPI, Django, or Flask for building robust backend systems that integrate with AI/ML pipelines
Cloud Infrastructure and DevOpsExperience with AWS, GCP, or Azure; containerization with Docker/Kubernetes; infrastructure-as-code; and deploying applications on customer infrastructure
Proof of Concept DevelopmentProven ability to rapidly prototype solutions, validate concepts with users, and transition prototypes into production-grade systems within compressed timelines
Cross-Functional CollaborationExperience working effectively with sales, product, research, and customer success teams; demonstrated ability to influence decisions across organizational boundaries

Compensation & benefits

Salary

EUR 130,000 – 190,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Comprehensive Health Insurance

Full medical, dental, and vision coverage with employer contributions for employee and family members, leveraging OpenAI's scale for competitive rates

Equity Compensation

Competitive stock options reflecting your contribution to OpenAI's mission, with standard vesting schedules aligned with industry practice

Professional Development

Annual learning budget, access to conferences, training programs, and resources to develop expertise in AI, software engineering best practices, and emerging technologies

Flexible Work Arrangement

Hybrid work model with three days in the office per week in Munich, enabling work-life balance while maintaining collaborative team culture

Relocation Support

Comprehensive relocation assistance package including moving logistics, temporary housing arrangements, and immigration support to facilitate transition to Munich

Travel Coverage

Full coverage of travel expenses for required customer engagements (up to 50% travel expected), including flights, accommodation, and incidentals

Paid Time Off

Generous vacation days, sick leave, and holidays in accordance with German labor standards, supporting well-being and recovery

Parental and Family Benefits

Competitive parental leave policies, family health insurance options, and support programs for employees with family responsibilities

Retirement Benefits

Access to German pension schemes and supplementary retirement savings programs to support long-term financial security

Interview process

  1. 1
    Initial Screening Call with Recruiter — Preliminary 30-minute conversation to assess background fit, clarify role expectations, discuss location and relocation preferences, and understand your motivation for joining OpenAI's Forward Deployed Engineering team
  2. 2
    Technical Phone Screen — Focused 60-minute technical discussion with an engineer on the Forward Deployed team covering full-stack capabilities, system design thinking, database knowledge, and experience building production systems. Expect questions about past projects and your technical decision-making process
  3. 3
    System Design and Architecture Interview — Deep-dive 90-minute interview where you'll design a scalable system, often involving AI/ML components. Demonstrate your approach to requirements gathering, architectural decisions, trade-offs between technology choices, and how you'd communicate this to customers
  4. 4
    Customer Engagement Simulation — Behavioral interview exploring your customer-facing experience, ability to translate business problems into technical solutions, past experiences with difficult customer situations, and your collaborative approach with cross-functional teams
  5. 5
    Full-Stack Implementation Exercise — Practical coding challenge where you'll implement a backend API endpoint and potentially a simple frontend component, demonstrating code quality, testing approach, and attention to production-ready practices
  6. 6
    Manager and Leadership Round — Conversation with the Forward Deployed Engineering manager covering team dynamics, your experience mentoring others, how you handle ambiguity and competing priorities, and your vision for impact in the role
  7. 7
    Reference Checks and Background Verification — Reference calls with previous managers and colleagues to validate technical capabilities, customer collaboration skills, and cultural fit. Standard background check and security clearance procedures
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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
PythonTypeScript/JavaScriptSQLGo
Frameworks
FastAPIReact or Vue.jsDjangoNext.js
Databases
PostgreSQLMySQLRedis
Tools
Git and GitHub/GitLabDocker and KubernetesAWS or GCPCI/CD PipelinesMonitoring and Observability Tools
Other
OpenAI APIs and SDKsRESTful API and GraphQL DesignSystem Design PatternsTesting Frameworks

Interview Guides

5 guides available for OpenAI

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