Platform Engineer, Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) - NYC

Openai·Remote(New York City)

Software Development

WFA Digital Insight

The demand for skilled platform engineers in the AI sector has grown significantly, with a 25% increase in job postings over the past year. As companies like Openai continue to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence, the need for talented engineers who can design and implement scalable platform capabilities has never been more pressing. With the rise of remote work, professionals with expertise in digital skills and remote collaboration are in high demand. Openai's Forward Deployed Engineering team is at the forefront of this movement, and candidates who can demonstrate a strong understanding of software engineering, ML engineering, and collaborative problem-solving will be well-positioned for success. Before applying, candidates should be prepared to showcase their experience in high-ambiguity environments and their ability to communicate complex technical ideas to both engineering and non-technical stakeholders.

Job Description

About the Role

The Platform Engineer role at Openai is a unique opportunity to join the company's Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) team, where you will work at the intersection of product, engineering, research, and go-to-market. As a Platform Engineer, you will be responsible for building and scaling platform capabilities that drive customer outcomes and business growth. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, and go-to-market, to identify and prioritize key initiatives and ensure seamless execution.

The FDE team is a leverage function that scales the impact of Openai's platform and products. As a Platform Engineer, you will embed with customer-tagged FDE pods to provide hands-on support and guidance, working on architecture, product shaping, refactoring, and implementation. Your goal will be to raise the engineering bar through tooling and mentorship, setting org-wide quality norms and building lightweight developer tooling that makes good architecture, readability, and correctness the default across FDE.

What You Will Do

Provide hands-on leverage to customer pods: embed with customer-tagged FDE teams to support generalization, contributing directly in architecture, product shaping, refactoring, and implementation.
Turn repeated signals into platform bets: translate cross-customer patterns into crisp hypotheses with clear success criteria, scope, and a validation plan that fits real account constraints.
Raise the engineering bar through tooling and mentorship: set org-wide quality norms through high-signal code review and pairing, and build lightweight developer tooling that makes good architecture, readability, and correctness the default across FDE.
Collaborate as part of cross-functional platform teams: partner closely with B2B Product, customer-tagged FDEs, ops, and business partners to bring the right products and platform capabilities to market.
Lead complex platform capabilities end-to-end when needed: for high-leverage primitives like our Context Platform, act as DRI from requirements through implementation, make key tradeoffs explicit, and pull in customer pods early to keep the work grounded in real deployments.
Develop and maintain a deep understanding of Openai's products and platform capabilities, staying up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies.
Work closely with the B2B Platform Team to align on platform priorities and ensure seamless integration with customer-facing products.
Participate in code reviews and ensure that all code meets the highest standards of quality, reliability, and maintainability.

What We Are Looking For

5+ years of software engineering or ML engineering experience with a track record of shipping 0→1 capabilities that other engineers or customers depend on.
Experience in high-ambiguity, fast-iteration environments (startups or product-centric teams) is a plus.
Strong understanding of software engineering principles, including design patterns, architecture, and testing.
Experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems (e.g., Git).
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to break down complex problems into manageable components.
Experience with cloud-based platforms and technologies (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).

Nice to Have

Experience with machine learning frameworks and technologies (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
Familiarity with containerization (e.g., Docker) and orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes).
Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automation tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD).
Knowledge of security best practices and compliance frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, PCI-DSS).

Benefits and Perks

Competitive salary and equity package.
Comprehensive health insurance and benefits package.
Flexible PTO policy and remote work arrangements.
Professional development opportunities, including training and conference sponsorships.
Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools.
Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a team of experienced professionals.
Opportunity to work on high-impact projects that drive business growth and customer outcomes.

How to Stand Out

To stand out as a candidate, make sure to highlight your experience with software engineering, ML engineering, and collaborative problem-solving in your resume and cover letter.
Be prepared to provide specific examples of your experience working in high-ambiguity environments and your ability to communicate complex technical ideas to non-technical stakeholders.
Familiarize yourself with Openai's products and platform capabilities, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's goals and vision.
Emphasize your ability to work effectively in a remote environment and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
Be prepared to discuss your experience with agile development methodologies, version control systems, and CI/CD pipelines.
Consider creating a portfolio or repository of your work to demonstrate your technical skills and experience to potential employers.

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