Software Engineer, Core Science
WFA Digital Insight
Demand for AI-assisted scientific research tools has grown significantly, with over 50% of researchers seeking more efficient data analysis solutions. At Openai, the Core Sciences team is revolutionizing scientific discovery by developing AI-native workflows. With the rise of remote work, companies like Openai are looking for skilled engineers who can collaborate closely with researchers and scientists to build innovative products. To succeed in this role, candidates need strong backend and full-stack engineering fundamentals, as well as experience working in ambiguous environments. Before applying, consider the company's hybrid work model and relocation assistance.
Job Description
About the Role
The Software Engineer, Core Sciences, plays a crucial role in designing and building the platforms, products, and infrastructure that power AI-native scientific research workflows. As part of the Core Sciences team, you will work closely with researchers, applied scientists, and product teams to define entirely new experiences for scientific exploration and experimentation. Your work will span both backend and full-stack engineering, with a focus on building reliable and scalable systems that can handle complex scientific data and workflows.The Core Sciences team is a new vertical within Openai, focused on making AI an exceptional collaborator for scientific discovery. The team's mission is to help researchers move faster and accelerate breakthroughs in math, physics, biology, chemistry, bioengineering, and adjacent scientific domains. To achieve this, the team is building AI-native tooling and infrastructure for scientists across paper writing, literature search, data analysis, simulations, and computational experimentation.
What You Will Do
- Design and build backend systems and full-stack product experiences for scientific research workflows
- Develop AI-native workflows for paper writing, literature review, paper understanding, research synthesis, and scientific knowledge exploration
- Partner with researchers and domain experts to understand real research workflows and identify high-leverage opportunities for AI
- Build AI-powered tools for scientific data analysis and simulation
- Help establish the product, platform, and engineering foundations for fast-moving 0 → 1 efforts across the Core Science organization
- Balance rapid experimentation with rigor, reliability, and quality required for tools used in research
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define and prioritize product capabilities
- Develop and maintain scalable distributed systems, developer platforms, and data-intensive applications
- Work closely with researchers to design and implement model-powered workflows and user-facing experiences
What We Are Looking For
- Strong backend or full-stack engineering fundamentals and experience taking complex product ideas from prototype to reliable production systems
- Experience building scalable distributed systems, developer platforms, data-intensive applications, retrieval or knowledge systems, workflow tools, or model-powered product experiences
- Comfortable building in highly ambiguous 0 → 1 environments, where customer needs, product direction, technical architecture, and model capabilities are evolving quickly
- Excitement about applying AI systems to consequential real-world scientific problems and building tools that improve how researchers reason, analyze evidence, collaborate, and make discoveries
- Experience working with complex technical content, heterogeneous sources, and evolving research questions
- Strong attention to performance, usability, and maintainability
- Ability to use feedback from researchers and domain experts to rapidly improve systems
Nice to Have
- Experience with machine learning frameworks and AI-powered workflows
- Knowledge of scientific research methodologies and data analysis techniques
- Familiarity with developer platforms, APIs, and data exchange protocols
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive compensation and equity package
- Opportunity to work with a talented team of researchers, engineers, and scientists
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment
- Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options
- Professional development and growth opportunities
- Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools
- Comprehensive health insurance and benefits package
- Generous paid time off and vacation policy
How to Stand Out
- Be prepared to showcase your experience with backend and full-stack engineering, as well as your ability to work in ambiguous environments.
- Highlight your understanding of AI-powered workflows and scientific research methodologies.
- Emphasize your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Make sure your portfolio demonstrates your experience with scalable distributed systems, developer platforms, and data-intensive applications.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with model-powered workflows and user-facing experiences, as well as your ability to balance rapid experimentation with rigor and quality.
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