Fractionals Send your requirement
People talking at the far end of a long wooden meeting table in afternoon light

What an OpenAI forward deployed engineer does

Company profile

An OpenAI forward deployed engineer (FDE) builds production systems with OpenAI's customers. The team hires Forward Deployed Engineers and Forward Deployed Software Engineers. OpenAI is also one of the few companies with a public interview guide.

Send your requirement
  • No deposit to get started
  • Every requirement read by us
  • A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
  • One agreement, one invoice

The team

Research breakthroughs into production systems

OpenAI's postings sum up the team: it "partners with customers to turn research breakthroughs into production systems." FDEs lead these projects with key customers. They own discovery, scoping, system design, the build and the rollout.

OpenAI measures success by production adoption, workflow impact and eval-driven feedback. Evals are the tests that show how well a model does a task. FDEs work alongside Solutions Engineers, Solutions Architects and Customer Success Managers on the same account.

Tell us the role and the hours. We send you a shortlist of people who fit.

  • No deposit to get started
  • Every requirement read by us
  • A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
  • One agreement, one invoice
Send your requirement

OpenAI forward deployed engineer and software engineer roles

Forward Deployed EngineerForward Deployed Software Engineer
FocusOwns the project from discovery to rolloutBuilds custom software on OpenAI's APIs, and reusable parts for other projects
Experience asked forEngineering, including customer-facing workFull-stack engineering
Way of workingHybrid, with travelHybrid, with travel

Open roles

Forward deployed roles across teams and countries

OpenAI's job board lists forward deployed roles in these areas.

  • Industry FDEs Healthcare, Legal and Financial Services FDE roles, each focused on a single industry.
  • Government An FDE role for government and a Forward Deployed Security Engineer, both in Washington, DC.
  • International FDE roles in London, Paris, Munich, Zurich, Madrid, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Abu Dhabi.
  • Managers A Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering in New York, and a Platform Engineering Manager for the team in San Francisco.

Tell us the role and the hours. We send you a shortlist of people who fit.

  • No deposit to get started
  • Every requirement read by us
  • A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
  • One agreement, one invoice
Send your requirement

The OpenAI interview process

OpenAI publishes a general interview guide that covers FDE roles. These are its stages.

  1. 01

    Application review

    The recruiting team reads your application and replies.

  2. 02

    Introductory calls

    With a recruiter or the hiring manager, about your experience and goals.

  3. 03

    Skills assessment

    This varies by team. It may be pair coding, a take-home project or a technical test.

  4. 04

    Final interviews

    Several interviews with different people, held online by default.

  5. 05

    Decision

    OpenAI decides after the final interviews and tells you the outcome.

How OpenAI compares

The main difference from Palantir is the work. OpenAI FDEs ship systems on OpenAI's own models and feed evals back to the model teams. A Palantir FDE deploys the Foundry or Gotham platforms.

For engineers and leaders

Apply to join.

Apply once with your CV. We look at every application ourselves. Talent never pays.

Apply now

Other AI labs hiring FDEs

Get started

Tell us what you need.

Send your requirement. We send you a shortlist of senior leaders who fit. One agreement and one invoice, with the terms agreed in writing before anything starts.

  • No deposit to get started
  • Every requirement read by us
  • A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
  • One agreement, one invoice
Which side are you on?

Send your requirement

  • No deposit to get started
  • Every requirement read by us
  • A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
  • One agreement, one invoice

Apply to join

Talent never pays to apply, be shortlisted or be placed.

Availability, days per week

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is the OpenAI FDE role remote?

The US roles we checked are hybrid. You spend part of the week in the office and also travel to customers.

Can I use AI tools in the OpenAI interview?

OpenAI's guide says the rules vary by interview. Some formats allow AI tools and others test you without them. The preparation materials say which.

Does Fractionals work with OpenAI?

No. OpenAI is not a client of ours. We describe its public job postings. To apply for a role there, go to OpenAI directly.

Explore more