Forward Deployed Engineer, Gov at OpenAI

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

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$198,000 – $252,000Compensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Government, Defense, Public SectorIndustries

Requirements

5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience, ideally in customer-facing or government environments
Active TS/SCI clearance or equivalent
Have scoped and delivered complex systems in fast-moving or ambiguous contexts
Write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend, using Python, JavaScript, or similar stacks
Familiar with cloud deployment models (Azure, AWS), Kubernetes, Terraform, and related infrastructure
Experience building or deploying systems powered by LLMs or generative models, and understand how model behavior affects product experience
Simplify complexity, make fast, sound decisions under pressure, and communicate clearly across technical and non-technical audiences
Spot risks early, adjust without slowing down, and model calm judgment when stakes are high
Humble, collaborative, and eager to help others with empathy
Operate with high horsepower, thrive in dynamic environments, and ruthlessly prioritize across multiple projects

Responsibilities

Own technical delivery across multiple government deployments, from first prototype to stable production
Deeply embed with public sector customers to design and build novel applications powered by OpenAI models
Enable successful deployments across customer environments by delivering observable systems spanning infrastructure through applications
Prototype and build full-stack systems using Python, JavaScript, or comparable stacks that deliver real mission impact
Proactively guide customers on maximizing business and operational value from their applications
Forge and manage relationships with customer leadership and stakeholders, ensuring successful deployment and scale
Scope work, sequence delivery, and remove blockers early—making trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality
Contribute directly in the code when clarity or momentum depends on it
Codify working patterns into tools, playbooks, or building blocks others can use
Share field feedback with Research and Product to influence model and product development
Keep teams moving through clarity, judgment, and consistent follow-through

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

PythonJavaScriptFull-Stack DevelopmentPrototypingDeploymentInfrastructure

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for the Forward Deployed Engineer role?

The salary range is $198K - $252K.

What is the location and work arrangement for this position?

The role is based in Washington DC with a hybrid work model requiring 3 days in the office per week. Travel up to 50% is required, including on-site work with customers, and relocation assistance is offered.

What skills and experience are required for this role?

Candidates need 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience, ideally in customer-facing or government environments, Active TS/SCI clearance or equivalent, and ability to write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend using Python, JavaScript, or comparable stacks.

What is the team like at OpenAI for Government?

You will work across federal, state, and local governments as part of the OpenAI for Government team, helping accelerate AI adoption through hands-on support, tailored training, and early insights to uplift public institutions.

What makes a strong candidate for this Forward Deployed Engineer position?

Strong candidates have 5+ years of experience scoping and delivering complex systems in fast-moving or ambiguous contexts, especially in government or customer-facing roles, with Active TS/SCI clearance and full-stack coding skills in Python or JavaScript.

OpenAI

Develops safe and beneficial AI technologies

About OpenAI

OpenAI develops and deploys artificial intelligence technologies aimed at benefiting humanity. The company creates advanced AI models capable of performing various tasks, such as automating processes and enhancing creativity. OpenAI's products, like Sora, allow users to generate videos from text descriptions, showcasing the versatility of its AI applications. Unlike many competitors, OpenAI operates under a capped profit model, which limits the profits it can make and ensures that excess earnings are redistributed to maximize the social benefits of AI. This commitment to safety and ethical considerations is central to its mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) serves all of humanity.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2015Year Founded

$18,433.2MTotal Funding

LATE_VCCompany Stage

AI & Machine LearningIndustries

1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

Health insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Flexible spending account for healthcare and dependent care

Mental healthcare service

Fertility treatment coverage

401(k) with generous matching

20-week paid parental leave

Life insurance (complimentary)

AD&D insurance (complimentary)

Short-term/long-term disability insurance (complimentary)

Optional buy-up life insurance

Flexible work hours and unlimited paid time off (we encourage 4+ weeks per year)

Annual learning & development stipend

Regular team happy hours and outings

Daily catered lunch and dinner

Travel to domestic conferences

Risks

Elon Musk's legal battle may pose financial and reputational challenges for OpenAI.

Customizable ChatGPT personas could lead to privacy and ethical concerns.

Competitors like Anthropic raising capital may intensify market competition.

Differentiation

OpenAI's capped profit model prioritizes ethical AI development over unlimited profit.

OpenAI's AI models, like Sora, offer unique video creation from text descriptions.

OpenAI's focus on AGI aims to create AI systems smarter than humans.

Upsides

OpenAI's $6.6 billion funding boosts its AI research and computational capacity.

Customizable ChatGPT personas enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

OpenAI's 'Operator' AI agent could revolutionize workforce automation by 2025.

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