Gov FDSE: Deploy Frontier AI for Impact (Relocation)

OpenAI, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 146,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Hybrid work model

Travel up to 50%

Equity

Job summary

OpenAI is seeking a Forward Deployed Software Engineer for Gov to embed with government clients across Washington DC, Seattle, and San Francisco. You will architect and deliver full-stack deployments, partnering with defense and federal stakeholders to drive mission impact.

The role requires hybrid work, up to 50% travel, and strong systems design experience. As an FDSE, you will prototype, code, and guide customers on maximizing value from OpenAI models while identifying reusable patterns and

Qualifications

• 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience, ideally in customer-facing or government environments.
• Active TS/SCI clearance or equivalent
• Write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend, using Python, JavaScript, or similar stacks.
• Familiar with cloud deployment models (Azure, AWS), Kubernetes, Terraform, and related infrastructure.
• Experience building or deploying systems powered by LLMs or generative models, and understand how model behavior affects product experience.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Engineering or technical deployment

TS/SCI clearance

Frontend and backend coding

Cloud deployment (Azure, AWS)

Kubernetes

Terraform

LLMs / generative models

Tools

Python

JavaScript

Kubernetes

Terraform

Azure

AWS

Job description

OpenAI is seeking a Forward Deployed Software Engineer for Gov to embed with government clients across Washington DC, Seattle, and San Francisco. You will architect and deliver full-stack deployments, partnering with defense and federal stakeholders to drive mission impact.

The role requires hybrid work, up to 50% travel, and strong systems design experience. As an FDSE, you will prototype, code, and guide customers on maximizing value from OpenAI models while identifying reusable patterns and