OpenAI

iOS Engineer, Applied Foundations

OpenAI1 months ago
Location

San Francisco

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 230,000 – 385,000

Level

Senior

Role

iOS Engineer

Posted

Jan 20, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

OpenAI is seeking a Senior iOS Engineer to join their Applied Foundations team, building core mobile experiences for millions of users across identity, payments, and safety systems. The role involves architecting reusable iOS frameworks, optimizing performance at global scale, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver AI-powered mobile experiences with the highest standards for security and reliability.

What you'll do

AI-Powered iOS Development: Build and ship innovative iOS experiences that showcase OpenAI's artificial intelligence capabilities to millions of users worldwide
Performance Optimization: Optimize app performance, reliability, and responsiveness at global scale to ensure seamless user experiences across diverse network conditions
Shared Framework Architecture: Design and maintain shared iOS frameworks and primitives for account management, trust systems, and commerce flows used across multiple OpenAI mobile applications
Testing Infrastructure: Establish robust testing frameworks including unit tests, integration tests, and UI automation to ensure code quality and maintainability
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, researchers, and backend engineers to deliver high-impact features that align with business objectives
Technical Leadership: Provide technical guidance and mentorship while shaping the future architecture and direction of OpenAI's iOS platform ecosystem
Security Implementation: Implement and maintain security best practices for sensitive user data, payment processing, and AI model interactions on mobile devices
App Store Management: Manage app releases, version control, and App Store compliance ensuring smooth deployment processes and regulatory adherence

What we look for

Technical

iOS Development Expertise4+ years of professional software engineering experience with proven track record of building production iOS applications
Swift ProficiencyExpert-level fluency in Swift programming language and modern iOS development patterns
Apple Ecosystem KnowledgeDeep familiarity with Xcode, UIKit, SwiftUI, and broader Apple development ecosystem
System ArchitectureExperience making complex architectural tradeoffs and designing scalable iOS applications
Business-Critical SystemsTrack record of owning complex, business-critical mobile systems end-to-end from conception to deployment

Education

Computer Science BackgroundBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
Continuous LearningCommitment to staying current with iOS development trends, Apple platform updates, and mobile engineering best practices

Experience

Production Scale ApplicationsExperience building iOS applications that operate reliably at global scale with high availability requirements
Cross-Functional CollaborationProven ability to work effectively with product, design, and backend teams in fast-paced environments
Performance OptimizationExperience optimizing mobile applications for performance, battery life, and memory efficiency

Skills

Required skills

Swift ProgrammingExpert-level proficiency in Swift for iOS development
iOS FrameworksDeep knowledge of UIKit, SwiftUI, and Core iOS frameworks
Xcode IDEAdvanced proficiency with Xcode development environment
App ArchitectureExperience with MVC, MVVM, and other iOS architectural patterns
API IntegrationSkills in integrating RESTful APIs and handling network communications
Version ControlProficiency with Git for collaborative development
Performance OptimizationExperience optimizing iOS apps for speed, memory, and battery efficiency

Nice to have

Combine FrameworkExperience with reactive programming using Combine framework
Core DataKnowledge of Core Data for local data persistence
Payment IntegrationExperience with In-App Purchases and Apple Pay integration
CI/CD PipelinesFamiliarity with automated testing and deployment processes
Machine LearningInterest in Core ML and on-device AI capabilities
App Store OptimizationUnderstanding of App Store guidelines and submission processes

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 230,000 – 385,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Significant equity stake in one of the world's leading AI companies with high growth potential

Comprehensive Health Insurance

Premium medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families

Mental Health Support

Access to mental health resources and counseling services

Professional Development

Generous budget for conferences, courses, and technical training to advance your iOS engineering skills

Flexible Work Environment

Hybrid work options with modern office space in San Francisco

Cutting-Edge Technology

Work with the latest iOS technologies and contribute to AI-powered mobile applications

Parental Leave

Generous parental leave policy for new parents

Retirement Planning

401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching contributions

Interview process

  1. 1
    Initial Screening — Phone or video call with recruiting team to discuss background and interest in OpenAI
  2. 2
    Technical Phone Screen — 45-minute technical interview covering iOS development concepts, Swift programming, and system design
  3. 3
    Take-Home Project — iOS coding assignment focusing on app architecture, API integration, and user interface implementation
  4. 4
    Onsite Technical Rounds — Multiple technical interviews covering iOS architecture, code review, debugging, and problem-solving scenarios
  5. 5
    System Design Interview — Discussion of mobile architecture decisions, scalability considerations, and technical tradeoffs
  6. 6
    Behavioral Interview — Cultural fit assessment with focus on collaboration, leadership, and alignment with OpenAI's mission
  7. 7
    Final Interview — Meeting with senior engineering leadership to discuss career goals and technical vision
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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
SwiftObjective-C
Frameworks
UIKitSwiftUICore DataCombineCore AnimationAVFoundation
Databases
SQLiteRealm
Tools
XcodeInstrumentsTestFlightGitFastlaneCocoaPods/SPM
Other
REST APIsGraphQLPush NotificationsIn-App PurchasesApp Store ConnectApple Pay

Interview Guides

5 guides available for OpenAI

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