OpenAI
Forward Deployed Engineer, Gov
Part remote, part office, you need to live within commuting distance of a named location.
Hybrid · Washington, DC
Employer listed it 13 months ago · Added 6 days ago
Been open since 13 months ago. Long-running listings are sometimes left up after the role is filled.
Salary
$145,800 to $280,000
Location
Hybrid · Washington, DC
Timezone
Not stated
Contract
Full-time
Experience
Mid
Category
Software
Published by the employer
Remote flexibility
Hybrid
This role is only partly remote, the employer expects time in the office around Washington, DC, Seattle, San Francisco, Hybrid, so you need to live within commuting distance.
What the employer says
- Source listing states candidate location: "Washington, DC, Seattle, San Francisco, 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
The OpenAI for Government team is a dynamic, mission-driven group leveraging frontier AI to transform how governments achieve their missions. Our team works to empower public servants with secure, compliant AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT Gov) and mission-aligned deployments that meet government technical requirements with strong reliability and safety.
About the role
Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) lead complex deployments of frontier models in production. You will embed with our most strategic government and public sector customers—where model performance matters, delivery is urgent, and ambiguity is the default. You’ll map their problems, structure delivery, and ship fast. This includes scoping, sequencing, and building full-stack solutions that create measurable value, while driving clarity across internal and external teams.
You will work directly with defense, intelligence, and federal stakeholders as their technical thought partner, guiding adoption, maximizing mission impact, and ensuring successful deployments at scale. Along the way, you’ll identify reusable patterns, codify best practices, and share field signal that influences OpenAI’s roadmap.
This role is based in Washington DC, Seattle or San Francisco. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week. We offer relocation assistance. Travel up to 50% is required, including on-site work with customers.
In this role you will
Own technical delivery across multiple government deployments, from first prototype to stable production.
Deeply embed with public sector customers to design and build novel applications powered by OpenAI models.
Enable successful deployments across customer environments by delivering observable systems spanning infrastructure through applications.
Prototype and build full-stack systems using Python, JavaScript, or comparable stacks that deliver real mission impact.
Proactively guide customers on maximizing business and operational value from their applications.
Forge and manage relationships with customer leadership and stakeholders, ensuring successful deployment and scale.
Scope work, sequence delivery, and remove blockers early—making trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality.
Contribute directly in the code when clarity or momentum depends on it.
Codify working patterns into tools, playbooks, or building blocks others can use.
Share field feedback with Research and Product to influence model and product development.
Keep teams moving through clarity, judgment, and consistent follow-through.
You might thrive in this role if you
Bring 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience, ideally in customer-facing or government environments.
Active TS/SCI clearance or equivalent
Have scoped and delivered complex systems in fast-moving or ambiguous contexts.
Write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend, using Python, JavaScript, or similar stacks.
Are familiar with cloud deployment models (Azure, AWS), Kubernetes, Terraform, and related infrastructure.
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.
- 3Apply directly on the employer's careers page using the button below. Nomaders never handles your application.
Found 6d ago. Last checked 24 Sept. Always confirm the details on the original posting, salary and location can change after publication.
Listing sourced from Company boards.
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