Full-Stack Software Engineer, Applied Foundations

Full Stack Engineer · Senior · Full Time

San FranciscoUSD 185k – 385k3mo ago
Apply for this role

Opens OpenAI's application page

Role

What you'll do.

OpenAI is seeking a Full-Stack Software Engineer for their Applied Foundations team, responsible for building core product and platform layers that power transformative AI applications like ChatGPT. The ideal candidate will architect resilient, secure systems across frontend and backend, collaborating to deliver innovative AI technologies at global scale.

Responsibilities

  • System Architecture: Architect, build, and improve comprehensive frontend and backend systems for AI product infrastructure
  • Full Stack Development: Design and implement end-to-end product solutions from initial exploration through launch readiness
  • Technical Planning: Participate in long-term architectural planning and conduct detailed technical design reviews
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with multi-disciplinary teams to design solutions that balance user experience with system security and safety

Qualifications

What we look for.

Technical

  • Full Stack Development

    Proven experience building and shipping complete applications across frontend and backend technologies

  • System Resilience

    Expertise in designing scalable systems capable of handling large-scale complexity and high-traffic environments

  • Problem Solving

    Strong ability to independently solve complex technical challenges and acquire new skills rapidly

Education

  • Computer Science

    Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline preferred

Experience

  • Startup Environment

    Demonstrated success in fast-moving, startup-like development environments with end-to-end product delivery

  • AI/ML Product Development

    Previous experience in AI, machine learning, or advanced technology product development is highly advantageous

Skills

Required

  • Full Stack Engineering

    Comprehensive expertise in both frontend and backend development technologies

  • System Design

    Advanced capabilities in designing robust, scalable software architectures

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration

    Strong interpersonal and communication skills for effective teamwork

Preferred

  • AI/ML Technologies

    Nice to have

    Familiarity with machine learning frameworks, natural language processing, and generative AI technologies

  • Security Engineering

    Nice to have

    Understanding of adversarial system protection and advanced cybersecurity principles

Tech stack

Languages

PythonJavaScript

Frameworks

ReactNode.js

Databases

PostgreSQLMongoDB

Tools

DockerKubernetes

Other

Machine Learning Libraries

Compensation

Pay and benefits.

Base·USD 185,000 – 385,000

Equity·Stock options

Benefits

  • Equity Compensation

    Competitive stock options to share in company's growth

  • Health Insurance

    Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

  • Professional Development

    Opportunities for continuous learning and AI research exposure

  • Flexible Work Arrangement

    Hybrid work model with location flexibility

Process

Interview steps.

  1. 01

    Initial Screening

    Phone or video call with recruiting team to assess background and fit

  2. 02

    Technical Assessment

    Comprehensive coding challenge evaluating full stack and system design skills

  3. 03

    Onsite/Virtual Interviews

    Multiple rounds including technical interviews, system design, and behavioral assessments

  4. 04

    Final Panel Interview

    Meeting with senior engineering leadership to discuss vision and potential contributions

Full posting

Original listing.

About the Team

OpenAI’s Applications Engineering organization builds and operates the products (such as ChatGPT & Codex) that bring our cutting-edge research to millions of users and developers worldwide.

The Applied Foundations team owns the core product and platform layers that make those experiences possible — from identity & access, to safety to payments & commerce across all of our apps. Our teams span product engineering, infrastructure, and safety, working together to deliver technology that is reliable, secure, and trusted at global scale.

About the Role

We’re hiring Full-Stack Software Engineers to design and implement safe services, systems and infrastructure that power our core products.

In this role, you will:

  • Architect, build, and improve frontend and backend systems.

  • Work across the full stack to build products and systems from initial exploration through launch readiness.

  • Participate in long-term architectural planning and technical design reviews.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design solutions that protect against and mitigate adversarial attacks without compromising user experience.

You might thrive in this role if you:

  • Have built and shipped full-stack apps or systems end-to-end — in fast-moving, startup-like environments.

  • Have a humble attitude, an eagerness to help your colleagues, and a desire to do whatever it takes to make the team succeed.

  • Enjoy building resilient products and services that handle large scale and complexity.

  • Are self-directed and enjoy figuring out the best way to solve a particular problem

  • Own problems end-to-end, and are willing to pick up whatever knowledge you're missing to get the job done.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity. 

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.

For additional information, please see OpenAI’s Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.

Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.

To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.

OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy

At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

Redirects to OpenAI's application page.

Other roles

More at OpenAI.

View all 102 roles