OpenAI

Software Engineer, Monetization AI/ML (SF/Seattle)

OpenAI2 months ago
Location

San Francisco

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 230,000 – 385,000

Level

Senior

Role

ML Engineer

Posted

Jan 8, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

OpenAI's Monetization team is seeking an experienced Software Engineer to architect and build large-scale AI/ML-driven ads ranking and recommendation systems. This 0→1 founding-stage role involves developing next-generation monetization platforms using modern transformer and LLM architectures to enable responsible scaling of AI access while maintaining rigorous privacy and safety standards.

What you'll do

ML System Architecture: Design and build large-scale ads ranking and recommendation systems using modern ML and AI techniques
LLM Model Development: Develop and productionize transformer-inspired models leveraging sequential signals and long-horizon context
Production ML Pipelines: Create model-driven decision logic and inference pipelines operating under real-world performance constraints
Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with Product, Design, and Research teams to translate product goals into scalable ML systems
Rapid Prototyping: Prototype and iterate on new model architectures to improve relevance, quality, and efficiency
ML Infrastructure: Build services supporting training, evaluation, online inference, and continuous model optimization
Measurement and Experimentation: Establish robust practices for understanding model behavior and system-level outcomes
Technical Strategy: Contribute to long-term evolution of OpenAI's monetization and recommendation technology stack
Safety Integration: Embed safety, fairness, and policy considerations into model design and system architecture

What we look for

Technical

ML Production Systems6+ years building and scaling ML-powered systems in production environments
Ranking and RecommendationExperience with ranking, recommendation, ads, marketplaces, or large-scale ML inference systems
Full-stack ML DevelopmentAbility to work across model development, backend services, and production deployment
System Design ExpertiseStrong intuition for ML and system design tradeoffs with focus on scalability and maintainability

Education

Computer Science DegreeBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related technical field preferred
Advanced ML KnowledgeStrong foundation in machine learning, deep learning, and statistical modeling

Experience

Senior-level Experience6+ years of professional software engineering experience with focus on ML systems
0-to-1 Product DevelopmentExperience in early-stage, greenfield environments building foundational systems from scratch
Cross-functional CollaborationProven ability to work effectively with product, design, and research teams

Skills

Required skills

Machine Learning FrameworksExpert proficiency in PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar deep learning frameworks
Python ProgrammingAdvanced Python skills for ML model development and data processing
Distributed SystemsExperience building scalable, high-performance distributed ML systems
Model DeploymentProduction ML model serving, monitoring, and continuous integration practices
Data EngineeringLarge-scale data processing, feature engineering, and pipeline development

Nice to have

Transformer ArchitecturesDeep understanding of transformer models and attention mechanisms
Real-time ML SystemsExperience with low-latency inference and real-time recommendation systems
Cloud PlatformsProficiency with AWS, GCP, or Azure for ML infrastructure deployment
A/B TestingStatistical analysis and experimentation frameworks for ML model evaluation
Vector DatabasesExperience with embedding storage and similarity search systems

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 230,000 – 385,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Significant equity package in one of the world's leading AI companies

Relocation Assistance

Full relocation support for candidates moving to San Francisco or Seattle

Health Insurance

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Professional Development

Access to cutting-edge AI research and continuous learning opportunities

Work-Life Balance

Flexible working arrangements and generous time off policies

Retirement Planning

401(k) plan with company matching contributions

Interview process

  1. 1
    Initial Screening — Phone/video call with talent acquisition team to discuss background and interest
  2. 2
    Technical Phone Screen — 45-60 minute technical interview focusing on ML concepts and coding skills
  3. 3
    Take-home Assignment — ML system design project demonstrating architecture and implementation skills
  4. 4
    Virtual Technical Panel — Multi-round technical interviews covering system design, ML theory, and coding
  5. 5
    Behavioral Interview — Culture fit assessment and discussion of past experiences and collaboration style
  6. 6
    Final Interview — Meeting with senior leadership and team members to discuss vision and fit
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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
PythonGoRustSQL
Frameworks
PyTorchTensorFlowRayFastAPI
Databases
PostgreSQLRedisClickHouseVector Database
Tools
KubernetesDockerMLflowWeights & BiasesApache KafkaTerraform
Other
Large Language ModelsRecommendation SystemsReal-time InferenceA/B Testing

Interview Guides

5 guides available for OpenAI

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