OpenAI

Software Engineer, Monetization Infrastructure (SF/Seattle)

OpenAI3 months ago
Location

San Francisco

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 230,000 – 385,000

Level

Senior

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

Dec 10, 2025

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

OpenAI is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to build foundational infrastructure for their new Monetization team, developing privacy-preserving ads and monetization systems. This role requires 10+ years of distributed systems experience and involves architecting scalable backend infrastructure, APIs, and internal platforms to support ads creation, delivery, and optimization at global scale. The position is based in San Francisco or Seattle with competitive compensation and equity.

What you'll do

Infrastructure Architecture: Design and build foundational backend and infrastructure systems powering OpenAI's monetization and advertising platforms
Distributed Systems Development: Architect large-scale distributed systems meeting strict requirements for reliability, privacy, security, and performance
API and Platform Development: Develop APIs, infrastructure services, and internal platforms supporting ads creation, delivery, measurement, and optimization
Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product, Research, and Design teams to translate requirements into scalable technical solutions
0-to-1 Infrastructure Development: Drive greenfield infrastructure development through rapid prototyping, experimentation, and iterative improvements
Technical Strategy: Contribute to long-term technical strategy and roadmap for the monetization infrastructure stack
Engineering Excellence: Ensure high engineering standards through comprehensive testing, documentation, observability, and operational best practices
Privacy and Safety Implementation: Build systems with safety, privacy, fairness, and policy alignment considerations from first principles
Cross-organizational Coordination: Collaborate across engineering organizations to ensure infrastructure is flexible, performant, and resilient

What we look for

Technical

Distributed Systems Expertise10+ years of experience building and operating large-scale distributed systems
Mission-Critical SystemsExperience designing systems with demanding reliability, performance, and correctness requirements
Systems ThinkingStrong understanding of architecture, data flows, operational concerns, observability, and long-term maintainability
Backend DevelopmentProficiency in backend languages like Go, Python, Java, or Rust for building scalable services
Database SystemsExperience with relational and NoSQL databases, data modeling, and query optimization
Cloud PlatformsHands-on experience with AWS, GCP, or Azure for deploying and managing distributed systems
ContainerizationProficiency with Docker, Kubernetes, and container orchestration platforms
API DesignExperience designing RESTful APIs and gRPC services for high-throughput applications

Education

Bachelor's DegreeBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field preferred
Advanced DegreeMaster's degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience in distributed systems

Experience

Senior-Level ExperienceMinimum 10+ years of professional software engineering experience
0-to-1 DevelopmentExperience defining technical direction in ambiguous greenfield environments
Cross-functional CollaborationProven ability to work cross-functionally to shape product requirements and system capabilities
Ads/Monetization ExperienceBonus: Experience in ads systems, marketplaces, AI/ML infrastructure, or monetization-intensive domains
Leadership ExperienceExperience mentoring engineers and leading technical initiatives in complex environments

Skills

Required skills

Distributed Systems10+ years building and operating large-scale distributed systems
Backend DevelopmentExpert-level proficiency in Go, Python, Java, or Rust
System ArchitectureAbility to design scalable, reliable, and maintainable system architectures
Database DesignExperience with both SQL and NoSQL databases, data modeling, and optimization
API DevelopmentProficiency in RESTful APIs, gRPC, and microservices architecture
Cloud PlatformsHands-on experience with AWS, GCP, or Azure services
DevOps PracticesExperience with CI/CD, infrastructure as code, and automated deployment
Monitoring & ObservabilityImplementation of comprehensive logging, monitoring, and alerting systems

Nice to have

Ads SystemsExperience building advertising platforms, real-time bidding, or ad serving systems
AI/ML InfrastructureBackground in machine learning infrastructure and model serving platforms
High-Frequency SystemsExperience with low-latency, high-throughput financial or trading systems
Privacy EngineeringKnowledge of privacy-preserving technologies and compliance frameworks
Marketplace DevelopmentExperience building two-sided marketplaces or monetization platforms
Security EngineeringUnderstanding of security best practices and threat modeling
Performance OptimizationExpertise in system performance tuning and scalability optimization

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 230,000 – 385,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Significant equity participation in one of the world's most valuable AI companies

Relocation Assistance

Comprehensive relocation package for candidates moving to San Francisco or Seattle

Health Insurance

Premium medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents

Retirement Benefits

401(k) plan with company matching and investment options

Professional Development

Learning budget for conferences, courses, and skill development opportunities

Flexible PTO

Unlimited paid time off policy with encouraged time away from work

Parental Leave

Generous parental leave policies for new parents

Mental Health Support

Mental health resources and wellness programs

Office Perks

Premium office spaces in San Francisco and Seattle with meals and amenities

Interview process

  1. 1
    Initial Screening — Phone or video call with recruiter to discuss background, role fit, and compensation expectations
  2. 2
    Technical Phone Screen — 45-60 minute technical interview covering system design concepts and coding fundamentals
  3. 3
    System Design Interview — Deep-dive system design session focused on distributed systems architecture and scalability
  4. 4
    Coding Interview — Live coding session emphasizing backend development, algorithms, and problem-solving approach
  5. 5
    Cross-functional Interview — Behavioral interview with Product or Research team members assessing collaboration skills
  6. 6
    Final Round Interview — On-site or virtual panel with senior engineers and hiring manager covering technical depth and cultural fit
  7. 7
    Reference Checks — Professional references contacted to verify experience and work style
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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
GoPythonRustJava
Frameworks
gRPCProtocol BuffersApache KafkaSpring Boot
Databases
PostgreSQLRedisApache CassandraClickHouse
Tools
KubernetesDockerTerraformPrometheusGrafanaDatadog
Other
AWSApache AirflowIstioGitHub Actions

Interview Guides

5 guides available for OpenAI

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