OpenAI

Forward Deployed Software Engineer - Paris

OpenAI8 months ago
Location

Paris, France

Type

Full Time

Salary

EUR 150,000 – 220,000

Level

Senior

Role

Forward Deployed Software Engineer

Posted

Nov 20, 2025

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

OpenAI seeks a customer-focused Forward Deployed Software Engineer based in Paris to design and implement scalable production systems that leverage OpenAI's APIs for strategic enterprise customers. This role combines full-stack engineering expertise with customer engagement, requiring 7+ years of experience building product systems at tech-driven companies while maintaining a hands-on approach to problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration with product, research, and customer teams.

What you'll do

Customer-Centric Solution Design: Embed deeply with strategic customers to understand their business challenges, technical requirements, and pain points in detail. Translate complex business needs into scalable technical architectures that leverage OpenAI's APIs and internal capabilities.
Full-Stack Architecture and Development: Design, architect, and develop end-to-end solutions using an experiment-driven, iterative approach. Work across frontend, backend, and infrastructure layers to create production-grade systems that solve customers' most difficult technical and business problems.
Project Planning and Scoping: Prepare detailed project scopes of work and comprehensive technical plans for both rapid proof-of-concept prototypes and full production deployments. Define success metrics, technical requirements, and delivery timelines in collaboration with stakeholders.
Hands-On Technical Leadership: Work directly with customers' technical teams as a technical expert and trusted advisor, coding side-by-side to drive projects to successful completion. Provide architectural guidance, best practices, and mentorship to customer engineering teams on their infrastructure.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with Product, Research, and Applied teams to ensure seamless customer experiences and project success. Serve as a bridge between customers and internal OpenAI teams, translating customer needs into actionable product feedback and feature requests.
Knowledge Base Development and Scaling: Contribute to internal knowledge bases and documentation, codifying best practices, architectural patterns, and insights gained from customer engagements. Create reusable abstractions and solutions that scale the Forward Deployed Engineering function's delivery speed and quality across all engagements.
Internal Team Collaboration: Work closely with Sales, Solutions Engineering, Solutions Architects, and Customer Success Managers on assigned accounts. Align on account strategy, customer success metrics, and technical priorities to ensure cohesive customer delivery.

What we look for

Technical

Full-Stack Engineering ProficiencyDemonstrated expertise in designing and implementing complete software systems across multiple layers, including frontend interfaces, backend services, APIs, and data persistence.
Relational Database SystemsStrong experience with PostgreSQL, MySQL, or equivalent relational databases, including schema design, query optimization, and operational excellence in production environments.
API Integration and DevelopmentHands-on experience integrating third-party APIs, building API layers for complex systems, and designing scalable API architectures that serve diverse client needs.
Production System DevelopmentProven ability to build, deploy, and maintain production systems at scale, with understanding of observability, monitoring, logging, and operational best practices.
Rapid Prototyping and IterationExperience rapidly prototyping solutions and iterating based on feedback, balancing speed-to-market with code quality and architectural soundness.

Education

Computer Science or Related FieldBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or equivalent professional software engineering experience demonstrating core competencies.

Experience

7+ Years Professional Full-Stack EngineeringMinimum 7 years of professional full-stack software engineering experience (excluding internships) at technology and product-driven companies, with hands-on coding contributions throughout career progression.
Customer-Facing Technical EngagementHighly desirable experience working directly with enterprise customers, understanding their requirements, and delivering customized technical solutions that directly impact their business outcomes.
Early-Stage Product DevelopmentStrong advantage gained from founding experience or serving as an early engineer at a startup, demonstrating ownership mentality, technical breadth, and ability to build products from conception to scale.
Technical Leadership and ArchitectureTrack record of leading technical projects, making architectural decisions, mentoring junior engineers, and establishing engineering best practices within teams or organizations.

Skills

Required skills

PythonProficiency in Python for backend development, data processing, and integration with AI/ML systems and OpenAI APIs.
TypeScript/JavaScriptStrong command of TypeScript or JavaScript for frontend development, API development, and full-stack web application implementation.
PostgreSQL/MySQLHands-on expertise with relational database design, optimization, migrations, and production database administration.
System Architecture and DesignAbility to design scalable system architectures, define API contracts, handle data modeling, and make technology trade-offs appropriate to customer needs.
Problem-Solving and DebuggingExceptional ability to diagnose complex technical issues, think critically through problems, and develop effective solutions rapidly under pressure.
Communication and CollaborationClear communication skills for explaining technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, active listening, and collaborative problem-solving approaches.

Nice to have

FastAPI/Flask/DjangoExperience with Python web frameworks for building robust REST APIs and backend services that integrate with AI models.
React/Vue/Next.jsProficiency with modern frontend frameworks for building responsive, production-grade user interfaces and web applications.
LLM and Generative AI IntegrationHands-on experience integrating large language models, implementing prompt engineering, and building applications leveraging generative AI capabilities.
Cloud PlatformsExperience with AWS, Google Cloud Platform, or Azure for deployment, infrastructure management, and cloud-native application development.
DevOps and DeploymentKnowledge of containerization (Docker), orchestration (Kubernetes), CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code for streamlined deployment and operational management.
Enterprise Software DevelopmentExperience building enterprise-grade systems with attention to security, scalability, compliance, and handling complex business requirements.
Technical Writing and DocumentationAbility to create clear technical documentation, architecture decisions, and knowledge transfer materials for internal and external audiences.

Compensation & benefits

Salary

EUR 150,000 – 220,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity and Stock Options

Competitive stock option packages aligned with company performance, providing meaningful ownership stake and long-term value creation.

Relocation Assistance

Comprehensive support for relocating to Paris, including visa sponsorship, housing assistance, and expatriate relocation services.

Hybrid Work Model

Flexible arrangement requiring 3 days per week in OpenAI's Paris office, enabling work-life balance while maintaining team cohesion.

International Travel Support

Coverage for required business travel (up to 50% travel expectation), including flight, accommodation, and travel logistics coordination.

Health and Wellness Benefits

Comprehensive health insurance coverage, wellness programs, and mental health support services for employee wellbeing.

Professional Development

Learning budget and opportunities for attending conferences, pursuing certifications, and expanding technical expertise in AI and software engineering.

Cutting-Edge Technology Access

Early access to OpenAI's latest models, APIs, and tools, providing competitive advantage and unique learning opportunities.

Collaborative Team Environment

Work alongside world-class engineers, researchers, and product teams focused on advancing AI capabilities and safe deployment.

Interview process

  1. 1
    Initial Screening Call — Conversation with recruiter to understand your background, career motivation, and alignment with the Forward Deployed Engineering mission and customer-focused approach.
  2. 2
    Technical Assessment — Evaluation of full-stack engineering capabilities through problem-solving discussion, code review, or practical exercise demonstrating system design and implementation skills.
  3. 3
    Customer Engagement Simulation — Scenario-based interview assessing ability to understand customer problems, ask probing questions, and propose technical solutions that balance customer needs with feasibility.
  4. 4
    Architecture Discussion — Deep-dive conversation with senior engineers on designing scalable systems, making technology trade-offs, and considering operational concerns for production deployments.
  5. 5
    Cross-Functional Collaboration Meeting — Interaction with Product, Solutions Architecture, or Customer Success team members to evaluate collaboration skills, communication ability, and understanding of customer success metrics.
  6. 6
    Leadership Interview — Conversation with hiring manager or senior leader exploring career growth aspirations, past project ownership, and alignment with OpenAI's mission to ensure AI benefits humanity.
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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
PythonTypeScriptJavaScriptSQL
Frameworks
FastAPIDjangoFlaskReactNext.js
Databases
PostgreSQLMySQL
Tools
OpenAI APIsGit and Version ControlDockerKubernetesAWS/GCP/AzureCI/CD Tools
Other
RESTful API DesignMicroservices ArchitecturePrompt EngineeringSystem Design and Scalability

Interview Guides

5 guides available for OpenAI

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