OpenAI
Software Engineer, Backend (Knowledge Innovation)
OpenAI, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Software Engineer, Backend (Knowledge Innovation)
Join to apply for the
Software Engineer, Backend (Knowledge Innovation)
role at
OpenAI Software Engineer, Backend (Knowledge Innovation)
Join to apply for the
Software Engineer, Backend (Knowledge Innovation)
role at
OpenAI About The Team
The Knowledge Innovation team is scaling OpenAI with OpenAI. We are building a model powered knowledge system that evolves and learns as our products, systems and customers evolve. We leverage our state of the art models, technologies, and products (some external, some still in the lab) to assist or completely automate robust operations supporting both internal and external customers. We support OpenAI customers and internal partners globally, powering systems from customer support to integrity to product insights. We are a self-contained multi-disciplinary team, who enjoy a lightning fast feedback loop with customers at scale, some of whom sit just a few pods away. We iterate fast, and engineer for reliable long-term impact. We're constantly looking for the similarities and patterns in different types of work, and focus on building simple primitives, to apply world class knowledge to many domains. About The Team
The Knowledge Innovation team is scaling OpenAI with OpenAI. We are building a model powered knowledge system that evolves and learns as our products, systems and customers evolve. We leverage our state of the art models, technologies, and products (some external, some still in the lab) to assist or completely automate robust operations supporting both internal and external customers. We support OpenAI customers and internal partners globally, powering systems from customer support to integrity to product insights. We are a self-contained multi-disciplinary team, who enjoy a lightning fast feedback loop with customers at scale, some of whom sit just a few pods away. We iterate fast, and engineer for reliable long-term impact. We're constantly looking for the similarities and patterns in different types of work, and focus on building simple primitives, to apply world class knowledge to many domains.
The work of this team exemplifies use of OpenAI technologies. We build systems so everyone can see the leverage that is possible with well designed AI-based implementations. We do this by working through internal use cases focused on Customers (specifically knowledge systems, automation systems, and automated agent systems) to prove impact, then we scale.
About The Role
We’re looking for a
Backend Software Engineer
to help architect and scale the infrastructure that powers our knowledge systems. This is a deeply technical and highly cross-functional role where you’ll build robust systems and backend services that serve as the foundation for how knowledge is created, accessed, and applied across OpenAI.
In This Role, You Will
Design, build, and maintain backend services and APIs to support intelligent automation and knowledge systems Integrate and structure data across internal platforms, transforming it into formats optimized for use by downstream systems and AI workflows. Collaborate closely with product, research, and engineering teams to integrate OpenAI models into high-leverage workflows Own the full development lifecycle of new backend systems and internal platform capabilities Build with scale and maintainability in mind, while rapidly iterating on new ideas
You Might Be a Great Fit If You Have
4+ years of backend engineering experience at product-driven companies (excluding internships) Proficiency in backend technologies. Our tech stack includes Python, FastAPI, and Postgres Experience designing and scaling distributed systems, APIs, or data processing pipelines A pragmatic mindset. You’re comfortable shipping iteratively while building toward a long-term vision An interest in structured knowledge representation, internal search, agent infrastructure, or systems that evolve over time Curiosity about AI/ML and excitement to work alongside world-class research and product teams (hands-on experience is a bonus, not a must)
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.
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.
To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.
OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy
At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.
Compensation Range: $325K Seniority level
Seniority level Mid-Senior level Employment type
Employment type Full-time Job function
Job function Engineering and Information Technology Industries Research Services Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at OpenAI by 2x Get notified about new Software Engineer jobs in
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Join to apply for the
Software Engineer, Backend (Knowledge Innovation)
role at
OpenAI Software Engineer, Backend (Knowledge Innovation)
Join to apply for the
Software Engineer, Backend (Knowledge Innovation)
role at
OpenAI About The Team
The Knowledge Innovation team is scaling OpenAI with OpenAI. We are building a model powered knowledge system that evolves and learns as our products, systems and customers evolve. We leverage our state of the art models, technologies, and products (some external, some still in the lab) to assist or completely automate robust operations supporting both internal and external customers. We support OpenAI customers and internal partners globally, powering systems from customer support to integrity to product insights. We are a self-contained multi-disciplinary team, who enjoy a lightning fast feedback loop with customers at scale, some of whom sit just a few pods away. We iterate fast, and engineer for reliable long-term impact. We're constantly looking for the similarities and patterns in different types of work, and focus on building simple primitives, to apply world class knowledge to many domains. About The Team
The Knowledge Innovation team is scaling OpenAI with OpenAI. We are building a model powered knowledge system that evolves and learns as our products, systems and customers evolve. We leverage our state of the art models, technologies, and products (some external, some still in the lab) to assist or completely automate robust operations supporting both internal and external customers. We support OpenAI customers and internal partners globally, powering systems from customer support to integrity to product insights. We are a self-contained multi-disciplinary team, who enjoy a lightning fast feedback loop with customers at scale, some of whom sit just a few pods away. We iterate fast, and engineer for reliable long-term impact. We're constantly looking for the similarities and patterns in different types of work, and focus on building simple primitives, to apply world class knowledge to many domains.
The work of this team exemplifies use of OpenAI technologies. We build systems so everyone can see the leverage that is possible with well designed AI-based implementations. We do this by working through internal use cases focused on Customers (specifically knowledge systems, automation systems, and automated agent systems) to prove impact, then we scale.
About The Role
We’re looking for a
Backend Software Engineer
to help architect and scale the infrastructure that powers our knowledge systems. This is a deeply technical and highly cross-functional role where you’ll build robust systems and backend services that serve as the foundation for how knowledge is created, accessed, and applied across OpenAI.
In This Role, You Will
Design, build, and maintain backend services and APIs to support intelligent automation and knowledge systems Integrate and structure data across internal platforms, transforming it into formats optimized for use by downstream systems and AI workflows. Collaborate closely with product, research, and engineering teams to integrate OpenAI models into high-leverage workflows Own the full development lifecycle of new backend systems and internal platform capabilities Build with scale and maintainability in mind, while rapidly iterating on new ideas
You Might Be a Great Fit If You Have
4+ years of backend engineering experience at product-driven companies (excluding internships) Proficiency in backend technologies. Our tech stack includes Python, FastAPI, and Postgres Experience designing and scaling distributed systems, APIs, or data processing pipelines A pragmatic mindset. You’re comfortable shipping iteratively while building toward a long-term vision An interest in structured knowledge representation, internal search, agent infrastructure, or systems that evolve over time Curiosity about AI/ML and excitement to work alongside world-class research and product teams (hands-on experience is a bonus, not a must)
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.
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.
To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.
OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy
At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.
Compensation Range: $325K Seniority level
Seniority level Mid-Senior level Employment type
Employment type Full-time Job function
Job function Engineering and Information Technology Industries Research Services Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at OpenAI by 2x Get notified about new Software Engineer jobs in
San Francisco, CA . San Francisco, CA $160,000.00-$180,000.00 2 weeks ago San Francisco, CA $130,000.00-$238,000.00 2 weeks ago San Francisco, CA $150,000.00-$250,000.00 2 weeks ago Full-Stack Software Engineer (Jr/Mid level)
San Francisco, CA $120,000.00-$180,000.00 1 month ago San Francisco, CA $57.00-$61.00 3 days ago San Francisco, CA $150,000.00-$230,000.00 3 months ago San Francisco, CA $57.00-$61.00 3 days ago San Francisco, CA $150,000.00-$283,000.00 2 weeks ago Software Engineer, AI Intern (Winter 2026)
San Francisco, CA $57.00-$61.00 3 days ago Software Development Engineer I - Frontend & Mobile
San Francisco, CA $99,500.00-$200,000.00 2 weeks ago Software Engineer, AI Intern (Summer 2026)
San Francisco, CA $57.00-$61.00 3 days ago San Francisco, CA $150,000.00-$176,000.00 3 months ago San Francisco, CA $120,000.00-$190,000.00 9 months ago Graduate Software Engineer (Redwood City, CA)
San Francisco, CA $125,000.00-$175,000.00 2 months ago San Francisco, CA $163,200.00-$223,200.00 2 weeks ago Software Engineer, Frontend (All Levels)
San Francisco, CA $150,000.00-$180,000.00 6 days ago San Francisco, CA $165,000.00-$165,000.00 2 years ago San Francisco, CA $120,000.00-$200,000.00 2 years ago San Francisco, CA $140,000.00-$280,000.00 8 months ago We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr