Forward Deployed Engineer - Zurich

OpenAI seeks a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer in Zurich to bridge customer needs with core platform development, leading end-to-end deployments of frontier models in production.

This position sits at the intersection of customer delivery and platform engineering. The Forward Deployed Engineer partners with strategic clients to transform research breakthroughs into stable, production-grade systems. Success is defined by production adoption, measurable workflow improvements, and feedback loops that inform future model development.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of technical deployments, from initial discovery and scoping through system design, building, and rollout.
• Deliver complex technical solutions across multiple projects, ensuring smooth transitions from prototype to stable production environments.
• Develop full-stack applications that provide tangible value to customers while enhancing internal learning processes.
• Collaborate closely with client teams to deeply understand their operational needs and drive the adoption of custom-built solutions.
• Define project scope, prioritize delivery sequences, and proactively eliminate obstacles to maintain momentum.
• Balance trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality, adjusting plans as necessary to ensure successful delivery.
• Write code directly when clarity or progress requires hands-on technical intervention.
• Document successful patterns into reusable tools, playbooks, and building blocks for broader team use.
• Communicate field insights to Research and Product teams to highlight model strengths and areas for improvement.
• Maintain team clarity and ensure consistent follow-through on commitments.

Requirements

• At least five years of engineering or technical deployment experience, including direct customer-facing responsibilities.
• Proven track record of scoping and delivering complex systems within fast-paced or ambiguous settings.
• Ability to write and review production-quality code for both frontend and backend using Python, JavaScript, or similar technologies.
• Experience building or deploying systems leveraging LLMs or generative models, with a clear understanding of how model behavior impacts user experience.

What the company offers

• Relocation assistance is provided for eligible candidates.
• Hybrid work arrangement requiring three days per week in the Zurich office.

About the company

OpenAI is committed to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. The organization focuses on safely deploying AI systems through its products, prioritizing safety and human needs in the creation process. It values diverse perspectives and believes AI can help solve significant global challenges.

• Dedication to ensuring AI benefits all of humanity.
• Focus on safe deployment of AI systems.
• Prioritizing safety and human needs in AI creation.
• Valuing diverse perspectives, voices, and experiences.
• Belief in AI's potential to solve immense global challenges.