OpenAI

Software Engineer, Online Storage

OpenAI11 months ago
Location

Seattle

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 230,000 – 385,000

Level

Senior

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

Apr 14, 2025

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

OpenAI is seeking a Software Engineer for their Online Storage team to build high-performance database systems serving hundreds of millions of users across ChatGPT, Sora, and OpenAI APIs. The role requires 4+ years of experience with distributed systems, systems programming expertise in C++ or Python, and hands-on experience with multi-threading and concurrency for large-scale infrastructure development.

What you'll do

Database System Architecture: Design and build highly scalable, reliable, and performant database systems serving hundreds of millions of users globally
API Development: Design and build simple, intuitive APIs for underlying database systems with focus on developer experience
Performance Optimization: Analyze and resolve performance and scalability bottlenecks to improve overall system efficiency and response times
System Debugging & Maintenance: Debug, instrument, and fix system issues from root cause analysis to delivering long-term solutions
Technical Strategy Leadership: Define technical strategy and guide development of robust infrastructure supporting high-scale production systems
Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with product teams to understand requirements and deliver impactful database solutions
Developer Tooling: Build intuitive internal tools and systems that boost engineering productivity across teams
System Reliability & On-call: Own reliability of built systems including participation in on-call rotation for critical incident response
Infrastructure Scaling: Support evolving business needs through scalable infrastructure design and implementation
SLA & KPI Definition: Define and maintain service level agreements and key performance indicators that meet stakeholder expectations

What we look for

Technical

Systems Programming ExpertiseStrong proficiency in systems programming with hands-on multi-threading and concurrency experience
C++ or Python ProficiencyExpert-level programming skills in C++ and/or Python for high-performance system development
Distributed Systems ExperienceHands-on experience with distributed systems including data storage, caching, search, or backend infrastructure
Large-scale System DesignProven ability to design and build systems that handle massive scale with focus on reliability and performance
Database Domain KnowledgePreferably domain experience in databases, large-scale data systems, storage, or distributed infrastructure components
Performance EngineeringExperience optimizing system performance and resolving scalability bottlenecks in production environments

Education

Computer Science DegreeBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience in systems development

Experience

Industry Experience4+ years of software engineering experience in production environments
Technical Leadership2+ years leading large-scale, complex projects or technical initiatives as engineer or tech lead
Production System BuildingExperience building and rebuilding production systems to support new product capabilities and growing scale
Distributed Systems ImplementationHands-on experience implementing distributed systems with focus on reliability, scalability, and security

Skills

Required skills

Systems ProgrammingExpert-level systems programming with multi-threading and concurrency
C++ or PythonProficient in C++ and/or Python for high-performance system development
Distributed SystemsHands-on experience with distributed data storage, caching, and backend infrastructure
Database SystemsExperience with large-scale database design, optimization, and maintenance
Performance EngineeringAbility to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks in high-scale systems
Technical LeadershipExperience leading complex technical projects and mentoring team members
Problem SolvingStrong analytical and debugging skills for complex system issues
CommunicationExcellent communication skills for building consensus across technical and non-technical stakeholders

Nice to have

Search InfrastructureExperience with search systems like Elasticsearch or similar technologies
Caching SystemsKnowledge of Redis, Memcached, or other distributed caching solutions
Container OrchestrationExperience with Kubernetes, Docker, or similar container technologies
Monitoring & ObservabilityFamiliarity with Prometheus, Grafana, or similar monitoring tools
API DesignExperience designing RESTful APIs and GraphQL endpoints
Cloud PlatformsExperience with AWS, GCP, or Azure for large-scale deployments
Machine Learning InfrastructureUnderstanding of ML system requirements and data pipeline architecture
Security EngineeringKnowledge of security best practices for distributed systems

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

Competitive Base Salary

Industry-leading compensation range of $230K-$385K annually

Equal Opportunity Employment

Inclusive workplace with equal opportunity policies and diversity commitment

Reasonable Accommodations

Support for applicants and employees with disabilities through accommodation requests

Mission-Driven Work

Opportunity to work on AI systems that benefit humanity and shape the future of technology

Cutting-edge Technology

Access to state-of-the-art AI research and development resources

Global Impact

Build systems serving hundreds of millions of users worldwide through ChatGPT and OpenAI APIs

Interview process

  1. 1
    Application Review — Initial screening of resume, GitHub profile, and technical background
  2. 2
    Technical Phone Screen — 45-minute technical discussion covering systems design and programming concepts
  3. 3
    Technical Deep Dive — 90-minute technical interview focusing on distributed systems, database design, and coding problems
  4. 4
    System Design Interview — 60-minute system design session covering large-scale database architecture and scalability
  5. 5
    Behavioral Interview — 45-minute discussion about past experiences, leadership, and cultural fit with OpenAI values
  6. 6
    Final Interview — Meeting with senior team members and hiring manager for final assessment and questions
  7. 7
    Reference Check — Verification of past work experience and technical capabilities with previous employers
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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
C++PythonSQL
Frameworks
Distributed Systems FrameworksDatabase Engine FrameworksAPI Development Frameworks
Databases
Large-scale Database SystemsDistributed Storage SystemsCaching Systems
Tools
Monitoring & Observability ToolsContainer OrchestrationCI/CD PipelinesPerformance Profiling Tools
Other
Multi-threading & ConcurrencySearch InfrastructureLoad BalancingOn-call Systems

Interview Guides

5 guides available for OpenAI

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