Backend Platform Engineer, API Security & Identity

OpenAI; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 293,000 - 385,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI is seeking a Software Engineer for API Enterprise Controls in San Francisco to define and ship enterprise-backend capabilities across authentication, identity, and key management. You will work on distributed backend systems, developer-facing APIs, and operational ownership, partnering with Product and security teams to deliver reliable platform features for developers and enterprises.

The role emphasizes deep backend engineering, strong product judgment, and the ability to lead large

Qualifications

• 9+ years of professional engineering experience in backend/platform roles.
• Exceptional backend engineering depth with product judgment and shipping API/platform capabilities.
• Experience leading large cross-functional initiatives with engineering, Product, GTM, security, and infra partners.
• Proficiency in backend languages such as Python, Go, Rust, or TypeScript; strong systems design and fundamentals.
• Experience with distributed systems, databases, streaming systems, routing, authentication, networking, or enterprise platform controls.
• Strong communication and developer empathy, turning ambiguous needs into clear technical decisions.
• Reliability, DevOps, and operational excellence mindset with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Own backend product capabilities end to end across authentication, identity, and controls.
• Lead cross-functional projects from design through launch with product and customers.
• Design developer-facing APIs, system behavior, error handling, auditing, and notifications for great DX.
• Build, operate, and debug highly reliable backend systems spanning databases, streaming and routing.

Skills

Backend engineering depth

Product judgment

Cross-functional leadership

Python

Go

Rust

TypeScript

Distributed systems

Communication

DevOps

Tools

Databases

Streaming systems

Request routing

Job description

OpenAI is seeking a Software Engineer for API Enterprise Controls in San Francisco to define and ship enterprise-backend capabilities across authentication, identity, and key management. You will work on distributed backend systems, developer-facing APIs, and operational ownership, partnering with Product and security teams to deliver reliable platform features for developers and enterprises.

The role emphasizes deep backend engineering, strong product judgment, and the ability to lead large