Device Safety & Risk Operations Specialist, User Safety & Risk Operations

About the Role

As a senior individual contributor, the Device Safety & Risk Operations Specialist will work closely with cross-functional teams, including Product, Engineering, Legal, Privacy, and Support, to ensure that safety and risk management protocols are integrated into every aspect of the product development lifecycle. This role will also involve developing operational playbooks for product-safety incidents, critical escalations, safety advisories, corrective actions, and other high-risk events.

The Device Safety & Risk Operations Specialist will be part of the User Safety & Risk Operations team, which is responsible for protecting Openai's products and users from abuse, fraud, safety risks, and other forms of misuse. This team operates at the front line of real-world safety and risk management, translating user and operational signals into timely decisions, effective interventions, and improvements to systems.

What You Will Do

• Build the end-to-end safety and risk operating model for new consumer hardware products, from early requirements through launch and early-life operations
• Define incident taxonomies, severity levels, decision rights, escalation criteria, response pathways, and closure standards
• Develop operational playbooks for product-safety incidents, critical escalations, safety advisories, corrective actions, and other high-risk events
• Design workflows for regulated and privacy-sensitive cases, including restricted handling, evidence requirements, auditability, and partner escalation
• Translate safety and operational needs into requirements for tooling, case management, data access, monitoring, logging, and automation
• Establish clear ownership boundaries across Product, Engineering, Legal, Privacy, Product Policy, Support, Product Quality, and other operational partners
• Build launch-readiness plans, tabletop exercises, training, quality controls, reporting, and post-launch monitoring
• Use operational data, customer signals, product telemetry, and case outcomes to identify patterns and improve upstream products and systems
• Determine where AI and automation can improve triage, evidence assembly, consistency, and response while preserving appropriate human judgment
• Stand up priority workflows, operate them through launch and early-life stabilization, and transition them into durable homes across USRO and partner teams

What We Are Looking For

• 8+ years of relevant experience in device safety, product safety, consumer hardware operations, technical program management, or a related field
• Experience building a complex safety or risk program from an ambiguous starting point through launch and scaled operation
• Understanding of the realities of handling high-severity incidents, regulated workflows, sensitive customer information, and time-critical escalations
• Ability to translate product, engineering, legal, privacy, and policy constraints into workflows that operational teams can execute
• Strong technical and hardware product fluency, with the ability to move from executive-level risk framing to detailed workflow design
• Experience with tabletop exercises, launch readiness, frontline guidance, and post-launch improvement
• Ability to work in a hybrid environment, with 3 days per week in-office in San Francisco, CA

Nice to Have

• Experience with AI and automation technologies, and their application in safety and risk management
• Knowledge of consumer hardware products and their associated safety and risk management protocols
• Experience working in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment, with the ability to navigate complex regulatory environments
• Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify patterns and improve upstream products and systems

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunity to work with a cutting-edge technology company that is changing the face of consumer hardware
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment, with a team of experienced professionals who are passionate about safety and risk management
• Professional development opportunities, including training and education programs
• Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options and flexible hours
• Access to the latest technology and tools, including AI and automation technologies
• Recognition and reward programs, including bonuses and stock options
• Comprehensive health and wellness programs, including mental health support and employee assistance programs
• Paid time off and holidays, including vacation days and sick leave
• Retirement savings plans, including 401(k) matching and pension plans
• Employee discounts and perks, including discounts on company products and services
• Opportunities for career advancement and professional growth, including promotions and lateral moves
• A culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive work environment
• A commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, and a desire to make a positive impact on the world

• Make sure to highlight your experience with device safety, product safety, and consumer hardware operations in your resume and cover letter.
• Be prepared to talk about your experience with regulated workflows, sensitive customer information, and time-critical escalations during the interview process.
• Show a strong understanding of technical and hardware product fluency, and be able to move from executive-level risk framing to detailed workflow design.
• Demonstrate your ability to work in a hybrid environment, with 3 days per week in-office in San Francisco, CA.
• Research Openai's products and services, and be prepared to talk about how you can contribute to the company's mission and values.
• Be prepared to provide examples of your experience with AI and automation technologies, and how you have applied them in safety and risk management contexts.
• Show a strong ability to analyze data and solve problems, and be able to identify patterns and improve upstream products and systems.