OpenAI

Software Engineer, Monetization Product & Platform (SF/Seattle)

OpenAI2 months ago
Location

San Francisco

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 230,000 – 385,000

Level

Senior

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

Jan 8, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

OpenAI is seeking an experienced Software Engineer to join their new Monetization team, building foundational infrastructure and APIs for next-generation monetization and ads systems at global scale. This is a 0→1 greenfield role requiring 7+ years of experience in high-scale distributed systems, working closely with Product, Design, and Research teams to architect privacy-preserving, user-first monetization solutions.

What you'll do

Core Infrastructure Development: Design, build, and scale the foundational infrastructure behind OpenAI's monetization and ads products with high reliability and performance
API Development: Develop advertiser-facing APIs and tools that enable creation, management, and measurement of ads campaigns
External Integrations: Build integrations with external partners and create enterprise-grade monetization products for business clients
Distributed Systems Architecture: Architect distributed systems and services operating at massive scale with strong reliability, usability, privacy, and performance guarantees
Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product, Research, and Design teams to translate requirements into high-quality technical solutions
0→1 Product Development: Drive greenfield product development through rapid prototyping, experimentation, and iterative deployment cycles
Technical Strategy: Contribute to technical strategy, propose new architectural directions, and help shape the roadmap for monetization platforms
Engineering Excellence: Maintain high engineering rigor through comprehensive testing, documentation, and operational best practices
Safety and Privacy Compliance: Uphold the highest levels of safety, privacy, fairness, and policy compliance across all monetization systems
Process Improvement: Continuously refine engineering processes, culture, and best practices within a fast-moving, multidisciplinary team environment

What we look for

Technical

Distributed Systems Experience7+ years building high-scale consumer, enterprise, or ads-related distributed systems
System ArchitectureProven track record architecting and delivering complex systems with high reliability and performance requirements
API DesignExperience designing and implementing RESTful APIs and GraphQL endpoints for external developer consumption
Database ManagementProficiency with both SQL and NoSQL databases, including optimization for high-throughput scenarios
Cloud PlatformsExperience with AWS, GCP, or Azure cloud services and infrastructure management
Microservices ArchitectureUnderstanding of microservices patterns, service mesh, and container orchestration

Education

Bachelor's DegreeBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
Advanced Degree PreferredMaster's degree in Computer Science or related field is a plus but not required

Experience

Senior Software EngineeringMinimum 7+ years of professional software engineering experience in backend systems development
Ads Systems ExperienceBonus: Previous experience in advertising systems, marketplaces, or other monetization-heavy domains
0→1 Product DevelopmentExperience building products from scratch in ambiguous, fast-paced environments
Cross-functional CollaborationStrong track record working effectively with Product, Design, and Research teams

Skills

Required skills

Backend DevelopmentProficiency in backend programming languages like Python, Go, or Java for building scalable services
System DesignStrong understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and scalability patterns
Database TechnologiesExperience with relational and NoSQL databases, including PostgreSQL, Redis, and analytics databases
API DevelopmentExpertise in designing and implementing RESTful APIs, GraphQL, and developer-facing tools
Cloud InfrastructureHands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS/GCP) and container orchestration (Kubernetes)
Problem SolvingStrong analytical and problem-solving skills for complex technical challenges

Nice to have

Advertising SystemsPrevious experience with ad serving, auction systems, or programmatic advertising platforms
Machine Learning IntegrationUnderstanding of ML model serving and integration patterns in production systems
Privacy EngineeringKnowledge of privacy-preserving technologies and GDPR/CCPA compliance requirements
Performance OptimizationExperience with high-performance computing and low-latency system optimization
Data Pipeline EngineeringExperience building ETL pipelines and real-time data processing systems
Security Best PracticesKnowledge of security frameworks, authentication systems, and secure coding practices

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 230,000 – 385,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Stock options and equity participation in OpenAI's growth and success

Relocation Assistance

Comprehensive relocation support for candidates moving to San Francisco or Seattle

Health Insurance

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

Professional Development

Learning and development budget for conferences, courses, and skill advancement

Flexible PTO

Generous paid time off policy with flexible scheduling

Parental Leave

Extended parental leave for new parents

Mental Health Benefits

Mental health support and wellness programs

Commuter Benefits

Transportation and commuting assistance for office-based work

Equipment Stipend

High-end laptop, monitor, and home office setup allowance

Food and Catering

Daily meals and snacks provided at San Francisco and Seattle offices

Interview process

  1. 1
    Initial Screening — 30-minute phone/video call with recruiter to discuss background, role fit, and compensation expectations
  2. 2
    Technical Phone Screen — 60-minute coding interview focusing on algorithms, data structures, and system design fundamentals
  3. 3
    System Design Interview — 90-minute deep-dive into distributed systems architecture, scalability, and real-world problem solving
  4. 4
    Coding Deep Dive — 2-hour technical interview with live coding exercises and architectural discussions
  5. 5
    Cross-functional Collaboration — 45-minute behavioral interview with Product/Design team members focusing on collaboration and communication
  6. 6
    Leadership and Values — 60-minute interview with engineering leadership discussing technical vision, career growth, and OpenAI values
  7. 7
    Final Round Decision — Team debrief and decision-making process, followed by offer discussion and negotiation
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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
PythonGoTypeScript/JavaScriptSQL
Frameworks
FastAPIDjango/FlaskReactgRPC
Databases
PostgreSQLRedisElasticsearchClickHouse
Tools
KubernetesDockerAWS/GCPTerraformPrometheus/GrafanaGitHub Actions
Other
Apache KafkaOpenAPI/SwaggerJWTOAuth 2.0

Interview Guides

5 guides available for OpenAI

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