Forward Deployed Engineer - Life Sciences - SF at OpenAI

San Francisco, California, United States

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$180,000 – $280,000Compensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, BiotechnologyIndustries

Requirements

5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience that includes customer-facing work
Have scoped and delivered complex systems in fast-moving or ambiguous environments
Write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend using Python, JavaScript, or comparable stacks
Have built or deployed systems powered by LLMs or generative models and understand how model behaviour affects product experience
Simplify complexity and make fast, sound decisions under pressure
Communicate clearly with engineers, product teams, and customer stakeholders
Spot risks early and adjust without slowing down
Model calm and judgment when the stakes are high
Have experience with the life sciences industry

Responsibilities

Own technical delivery across multiple deployments from first prototype to stable production
Build full-stack systems that deliver customer value and sharpen how we learn
Embed closely with customer teams, understand their needs, and guide adoption of what you build
Scope work, sequence delivery, and remove blockers early
Make trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality; adjust plans to protect delivery
Contribute directly in the code when progress or clarity depends on it
Codify working patterns into tools, playbooks, or building blocks that others can use
Share field feedback that helps Research and Product understand where the models succeed and where they can improve
Keep teams moving through clarity and follow-through

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Full-Stack DevelopmentAI DeploymentProduction SystemsPrototype DevelopmentCustomer EmbeddingDrug DiscoveryTechnical DeliveryRelocation Assistance

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

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

The salary range is $180K - $280K.

What is the location and work arrangement for this position?

The role is based in San Francisco with a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week. Travel up to 50% is required, and relocation assistance is offered.

What skills and experience are required for this role?

Candidates need 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience including customer-facing work, ability to scope and deliver complex systems in ambiguous environments, and proficiency in writing production-grade code across frontend and backend using Python, JavaScript, or comparable stacks. Experience building or deploying systems powered by LLMs or generative models is also key.

What is the team like at OpenAI for Forward Deployed Engineers?

The Forward Deployed Engineering team partners with customers to turn research breakthroughs into production systems, embeds deeply with users to solve high-leverage problems, and works closely with Product, Research, and Go-To-Market teams. They operate at the intersection of customer delivery and core development, moving quickly from prototype to deployment.

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

Strong candidates thrive in ambiguous environments, have customer-facing experience, can scope and deliver complex full-stack systems quickly, and contribute directly to code while codifying patterns for reuse.

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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