OpenAI· Model Deployment for Business· Seattle
Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - Seattle
Comp$162K – $280K
Classified Tasks (15)
Automate 0%Augment 53%Human-Only 47%
Augment (8)
AI assists, human decides
Own discovery, technical scoping, system design, build, and production rollout for deployments
technical
Own technical delivery across multiple deployments from first prototype to stable production
technical
Build full-stack systems that deliver customer value and sharpen organizational learning
technical
Scope work, sequence delivery, and remove blockers early
operational
Contribute directly in code when progress or clarity depends on it
technical
Codify working patterns into tools, playbooks, or building blocks for reuse
operational
Share field feedback with Research and Product to identify where models succeed and where they can improve
analytical
Measure success through production adoption, measurable workflow impact, and eval-driven feedback that influences roadmaps
analytical
Human-Only (7)
Requires human judgment
Lead complex end-to-end deployments of frontier models in production alongside strategic customers
leadership
Embed closely with customer teams to understand their needs and guide adoption of delivered solutions
communication
Make trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality and adjust plans to protect delivery
leadership
Keep cross-functional teams moving through clarity and follow-through
leadership
Partner directly with customer engineering and domain teams during deployments
communication
Collaborate with Product, Research, Partnerships, GRC, Security, and GTM teams to coordinate delivery
communication
Travel up to 50% to support on-site customer deployments and collaboration
operational
Job description
Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - Seattle | OpenAI Careers ## Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - Seattle Model Deployment for Business - Seattle Apply now(opens in a new window) **About the team** OpenAI’s Forward Deployed Engineering team partners with customers to turn research breakthroughs into production systems. We operate at the intersection of customer delivery and core platform development. **About the role** Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) lead complex end-to-end deployments of frontier models in production alongside our most strategic customers. You will own discovery, technical scoping, system design, build, and production rollout, partnering directly with customer engineering and domain teams. You will measure success through production adoption, measurable workflow impact, and eval-driven feedback that changes product and model roadmaps. You’ll work closely with our Product, Research, Partnerships, GRC, Security, and GTM teams. This role is based in Seattle. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week. We offer relocation assistance. Travel up to 50% is required. **In this role you will** * 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 **You might thrive in this role if you** * Bring 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 **About OpenAI** OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. For additional information, please see OpenAI’s Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement. Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles