Platform Engineering Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE)
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for skilled engineering managers in the tech industry has grown significantly, with a 25% increase in job postings over the past year. Openai's Forward Deployed Engineering team is at the forefront of innovation, and this Platform Engineering Manager role offers a unique opportunity to lead a team and drive platform growth. With the right combination of technical expertise and leadership skills, candidates can thrive in this position. As the remote job market continues to evolve, it's essential for candidates to have a strong understanding of GTM strategies and technical skills like Excel.
Job Description
About the Role
The Platform Engineering Manager role at Openai is a key position that requires a unique blend of technical expertise, leadership skills, and strategic thinking. As a member of the Forward Deployed Engineering team, you will be responsible for leading a team of engineers and driving platform growth through the development of cutting-edge products and solutions. The team is focused on taking frontier platform capabilities into the real world, working closely with design partners to turn raw customer signal into shipped software and durable products.The Platform Engineering Manager will be responsible for guiding a focused portfolio of platform bets, building and validating with customers, and co-developing with long-term owners. This will involve working closely with cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, and research, to drive outcomes and deliver results. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background, excellent leadership skills, and a deep understanding of GTM strategies and technical skills like Excel.
What You Will Do
- Guide a focused portfolio of platform bets, with clear hypotheses, success criteria, and measurable adoption outcomes
- Build and validate with customers, ensuring the team ships working software with design partners
- Co-develop with long-term owners, partnering early with B2B Platform and other durable owners to align on architecture, interfaces, security/governance requirements, and handoff criteria
- Maintain a high engineering bar, setting and enforcing standards for design, code quality, testing, observability, and operational readiness
- Grow and develop the team, coaching and developing engineers through direct feedback, clear expectations, and durable team mechanisms
- Operate with high judgment and influence, making clear tradeoffs under ambiguity and communicating decisions crisply across stakeholders
- Partner with customer-tagged FDEs to drive delivery and customer outcomes, embedding Platform FDE capacity where it can provide the highest leverage
- Collaborate closely with the B2B Platform Team and other long-term owners to align on what should generalize, what should remain customer-specific, and what "ready for handoff" looks like
What We Are Looking For
- 8+ years of engineering experience, including 2+ years managing high-performance engineers
- Deep customer obsession and ability to partner credibly with senior stakeholders
- Strong technical background, with expertise in areas like platform engineering, software development, and data analysis
- Excellent leadership skills, with experience in managing and developing high-performing teams
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
- Experience with GTM strategies and technical skills like Excel
- Strong problem-solving skills, with ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions
Nice to Have
- Experience with cloud-based platforms and technologies
- Knowledge of machine learning and artificial intelligence concepts
- Familiarity with agile development methodologies and DevOps practices
- Experience with data analysis and visualization tools
- Strong understanding of security and governance requirements
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and equity package
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
- Flexible working hours and remote work options
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment
- Recognition and reward programs for outstanding performance
How to Stand Out
- Develop a strong understanding of GTM strategies and technical skills like Excel to stand out in the application process
- Showcase your leadership skills and experience in managing high-performing teams
- Highlight your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with platform engineering, software development, and data analysis
- Research Openai's Forward Deployed Engineering team and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the team's goals and objectives
- Practice your problem-solving skills and be prepared to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions during the interview process
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with data analysis and visualization tools, as well as your understanding of security and governance requirements
This is a remote position listed on WFA Digital, the platform for professionals who work from anywhere. Browse more remote jobs across all categories.