OpenAI
Forward Deployed Engineer - Tokyo
Part remote, part office, you need to live within commuting distance of a named location.
Hybrid · Tokyo, Japan
Employer listed it 12 months ago · Added 4 days ago
Been open since 12 months ago. Long-running listings are sometimes left up after the role is filled.
Salary
Not stated
Location
Hybrid · Tokyo, Japan
Timezone
APAC
Contract
Full-time
Experience
Mid
Category
Software
This employer didn't state pay. Jobs like this usually pay around $165k–$255k a year, a typical range taken from 594 mid-level software roles on Nomaders that do state pay. It's a guide, not an offer.
Remote flexibility
Hybrid
This role is only partly remote, the employer expects time in the office around Tokyo, Japan, Hybrid, so you need to live within commuting distance.
What the employer says
- Source listing states candidate location: "Tokyo, Japan, Hybrid"
- Listing mentions "Hybrid"
What Nomaders makes of it
- Not suitable if you plan to move between countries
The quotes above are the employer's own words; the reading is ours. Always check the original listing and employment terms before working from another country.
About the role
About the team
OpenAI’s Forward Deployed Engineering team partners with customers to turn research breakthroughs into production systems. We operate at the intersection of customer delivery and core platform development.
About the role
Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) lead complex end-to-end deployments of frontier models in production alongside our most strategic customers. You will own discovery, technical scoping, system design, build, and production rollout, partnering directly with customer engineering and domain teams.
You will measure success through production adoption, measurable workflow impact, and eval-driven feedback that changes product and model roadmaps. You’ll work closely with our Product, Research, Partnerships, GRC, Security, and GTM teams.
This role is based in Tokyo. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees. Travel is expected in this role, mainly within Japan.
To succeed in this position you must be bilingual—fluent in both Japanese and English (spoken and written). Please note that your resume must be submitted in English, and the interview process will include conversations in both languages.
In this role you will
Own technical delivery across multiple deployments from first prototype to stable production
Build full-stack systems that deliver customer value and sharpen how we learn
Embed closely with customer teams, understand their needs, and guide adoption of what you build
Scope work, sequence delivery, and remove blockers early
Make trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality; adjust plans to protect delivery
Contribute directly in the code when progress or clarity depends on it
Codify working patterns into tools, playbooks, or building blocks that others can use
Share field feedback that helps Research and Product understand where the models succeed and where they can improve
Keep teams moving through clarity and follow-through
You might thrive in this role if you
Bring 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience that includes customer-facing work
Have scoped and delivered complex systems in fast-moving or ambiguous environments
Write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend using Python, JavaScript, or comparable stacks
Have built or deployed systems powered by LLMs or generative models and understand how model behaviour affects product experience
Simplify complexity and make fast, sound decisions under pressure
Communicate clearly with engineers, product teams, and customer stakeholders
Requirements
The employer hasn't listed requirements separately, they're described in the role summary above and on the original listing.
Benefits
No benefits package published with this listing. Ask about it at first interview.
How to apply
- 1Check the flexibility label above, hybrid, matches where you plan to live and work.
- 2Tailor your CV to the role at OpenAI, mentioning your remote working experience and working hours (APAC).
- 3Apply directly on the employer's careers page using the button below. Nomaders never handles your application.
Found 5d ago. Last checked today. Always confirm the details on the original posting, salary and location can change after publication.
Listing sourced from Company boards.
Similar roles
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Free to apply, no account needed.
Typically $165k–$255k · You'll be taken to the employer's careers page.