Software Engineer, API Enterprise Controls

Overview

Backend software engineer for API Enterprise Controls, building enterprise platform capabilities that help develop and run the OpenAI API securely at scale.

What you'll do

• Own backend product capabilities end to end across authentication and identity, service accounts, and key controls.
• Partner with Product, go-to-market, security, and infrastructure teams to identify needs and lead cross-functional projects.
• Design developer-facing APIs covering system behavior, configuration, error handling, safe defaults, auditing, and notifications.
• Build, operate, and debug reliable backend systems across databases, streaming infrastructure, request routing, and distributed services.
• Carry ambiguous requirements from discovery through design, launch, and iteration.

What you'll need

• 9+ years of professional engineering experience (excluding internships) in relevant backend, platform, or product-driven roles.
• Backend engineering depth with product judgment and a record of shipping API or platform capabilities.
• Experience leading large cross-functional initiatives and aligning product and engineering partners.
• Proficiency in one or more backend languages (Python, Go, Rust, TypeScript, or similar) with strong systems fundamentals.
• Experience with distributed systems, databases, streaming systems, request routing, authentication/identity, networking, or enterprise platform controls.
• Strong communication and developer empathy to turn ambiguous needs into technical decisions.
• Strong opinions about reliability, DevOps, and operational excellence with attention to details.