Backend Engineer, Privacy & Compliance

OpenAI; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading AI research company in Seattle seeks an experienced Software Engineer to architect and build backend systems that enforce data privacy and automate compliance. This role involves collaboration across product, infrastructure, and legal teams, requiring strong software engineering fundamentals and experience in backend systems. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of experience and a passion for securing user data while enabling innovation. This is a high-impact position with significant responsibilities and opportunities for growth.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industry experience building and operating backend systems in production.
• Experience with encryption‑based access or policy engines.
• A background in security engineering, privacy engineering, or data governance.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate backend services that enforce policy‑driven data access.
• Partner with Security, Legal, and Compliance to convert privacy requirements into technical designs.
• Collaborate with infrastructure teams to ensure consistent enforcement across systems.

Skills

Strong software engineering fundamentals

Fluency in at least one major programming language (e.g., Python, Go, Rust, C++, Java)

Experience with distributed authorization and RBAC/ACL systems

Familiarity with global privacy regulations

Ability to influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams

Bias toward practical solutions balancing privacy and product needs

Tools

Cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP)

Job description

A leading AI research company in Seattle seeks an experienced Software Engineer to architect and build backend systems that enforce data privacy and automate compliance. This role involves collaboration across product, infrastructure, and legal teams, requiring strong software engineering fundamentals and experience in backend systems. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of experience and a passion for securing user data while enabling innovation. This is a high-impact position with significant responsibilities and opportunities for growth.