Connectivity Software Engineer, Consumer Devices

OpenAI; United States; Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI is seeking a Connectivity Software Engineer to design, implement, and optimize wireless connectivity features across our product ecosystem. You will work at the intersection of systems software, wireless standards, and hardware integration—building robust pairing and provisioning flows, debugging low-level protocols, and driving performance under real-world RF constraints.

You will also support certification, field interoperability, and fleet-scale connectivity infrastructure in a hybrid

Qualifications

• Experience designing and debugging wireless connectivity features across devices.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and debug Bluetooth/BLE and Wi‑Fi features across kernel drivers and system services.
• Deliver robust pairing, provisioning, and security flows (GATT/GAP, WPA3, 802.1X).
• Optimize link performance including throughput, latency, roaming, and power modes.
• Build network management tooling with NetworkManager, nmcli, and related stack.
• Instrument and analyze using packet captures and tooling like Wireshark and btmon.
• Drive interoperability and certification readiness with Bluetooth SIG and Wi‑Fi Alliance.
• Contribute to OTA-safe configuration, telemetry, and diagnostics for fleet-scale operation.

Skills

Wireless protocols

Performance optimization

Debugging

Cross-functional collaboration

Linux system programming

Tools

BlueZ

wpa_supplicant

hostapd

NetworkManager/nmcli

nl80211/cfg80211/mac80211

Wireshark

btmon/hcidump

Job description

About the Team

The Connectivity Software Engineering team is responsible for enabling seamless, secure, and high-performance wireless connectivity across OpenAI's products. We design and optimize Bluetooth, BLE, Wi‑Fi, and emerging wireless technologies to ensure robust device pairing, network performance, and interoperability. Our work spans kernel drivers, system services, and user-level tools, with a focus on real-world performance, scalability, and reliability.

About the Role

OpenAI is seeking a Connectivity Software Engineer to design, implement, and optimize wireless connectivity features across our product ecosystem. You'll work at the intersection of systems software, wireless standards, and hardware integration - building robust pairing and provisioning flows, debugging low-level protocols, and driving performance under real-world RF constraints. You will also support certification, field interoperability, and fleet-scale connectivity infrastructure. This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 4 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

In this role you will

• Design, implement, and debug Bluetooth/BLE and Wi‑Fi features across kernel drivers, BlueZ/wpa_supplicant/hostapd, and systemd/D-Bus services
• Deliver robust pairing, bonding, and provisioning flows (GATT/GAP, LE Audio/LC3, WPA3/802.1X, captive portals, NAN)
• Optimize link performance: throughput, latency, jitter, roaming, coexistence (BT Wi‑Fi), and power modes (TWT, WoWLAN)
• Build reliable network management using NetworkManager/nmcli, nl80211/cfg80211/mac80211, DNS/DHCP/mDNS, P2P/SoftAP
• Instrument and analyze with packet captures and tooling (btmon/hcidump, Wireshark, iperf, eBPF/perf, spectrum sniffers)
• Drive interoperability and certification readiness (Bluetooth SIG, Wi‑Fi Alliance) and resolve field issues with root-cause fixes
• Contribute to OTA-safe configuration, telemetry, and diagnostics for fleet-scale operation