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Engineering Manager, Core Services

openai

San Francisco
Engineering

Job Score

80 pts
On-site model (+70) Engineering (+10)

About the Team

The Core Services organization builds and runs the mission-critical online services that product teams rely on in production. We own foundational distributed systems and platform capabilities that enable reliable execution, high-performance services, and large-scale file/data needs across our products. This team is distinct from developer infrastructure and data infrastructure—our focus is production service foundations and core runtime services.

About the Role

We’re hiring an Engineering Manager, Core Services to help lead teams responsible for highly reliable, high-scale distributed systems that sit on the critical path for OpenAI products. Your team will own foundational production systems that OpenAI’s product engineering teams build on. You’ll collaborate closely with product and infrastructure partners to ship reliable services quickly, and help scale systems and teams as OpenAI grows. You’ll partner closely with senior engineering leaders to scale the org, mature operations, and drive major platform initiatives. This role requires strong technical ability.

You’ll be responsible for:

  • Managing and growing a high-performing team of infrastructure engineers.

  • Leading teams building and operating large, critical production platforms, including cluster reliability, scaling, and rollout safety.

  • Building and operating mission-critical distributed systems with strong operational rigor (SLOs, incident response, capacity planning, reliability).

  • Setting technical direction for platform foundations such as workflow/orchestration capabilities, large-scale file/blob/storage services, and core service foundations.

  • Partnering with a broad set of stakeholders, including product engineering, adjacent infrastructure teams, and (where relevant) finance/cost partners.

  • Coaching, mentoring, and developing engineers and emerging leaders.

You might thrive in this role if you:

  • Have significant experience leading teams that run mission-critical infrastructure in production.

  • Have experience operating mission-critical services or core distributed systems building blocks.

  • Have built platform-like systems (e.g., orchestration/workflow execution, service platforms) and/or large-scale storage/blob/file infrastructure.

  • Have experience building systems spanning multiple cloud environments.

  • Take pride in building scalable, reliable systems and improving operational health.

  • Own problems end-to-end and can move fast in environments with ambiguity and competing priorities.

Workplace & Location

  • This role is based in our San Francisco HQ. We offer relocation assistance for new employees.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity. 

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.

For additional information, please see OpenAI’s Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.

Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.

To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.

OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy

At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

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About Engineering

Software Engineering goes beyond traditional development, focusing on scalability, performance, and system architecture. Software engineers are responsible for designing infrastructures that support millions of simultaneous users.

Skills include microservices architecture, DevOps, cloud computing, application security, and performance optimization. Knowledge of containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and CI/CD is increasingly required.

Senior software engineers are rare and highly compensated professionals, with opportunities at major global tech companies.

Discover Other Areas

Understand the scope of work, key skills, and tools used in different career areas.

About Traffic Analyst

The Traffic Analyst (paid media/performance specialist) is the professional responsible for creating, managing, and optimizing sponsored ad campaigns on digital platforms such as Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn Ads, and TikTok Ads. They monitor conversion metrics, analyze return on investment (ROAS), perform A/B testing on ads and landing pages, and manage the marketing budget to maximize lead generation and qualified sales.

About Social Media

The Social Media area is one of the most dynamic and constantly evolving fields in digital marketing. Social media professionals are responsible for creating, managing, and optimizing brand presence on digital platforms, building engagement and community with the target audience.

Key skills include social media management (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube), social media content creation, community management, paid social media (Meta Ads, LinkedIn Ads, TikTok Ads), metrics analysis, and strategic planning. Tools like Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Buffer, Later, and analytics platforms are essential.

Social media professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master paid social, social media analytics, and content strategies for different platforms. The field offers opportunities from analyst to head of social media, with a focus on growth, engagement, and return on investment.

About Human Resources

The Human Resources area is responsible for all people management in organizations, from attracting and selecting talent to developing, retaining, and ensuring employee well-being. HR professionals are fundamental to building strong organizational cultures and engagement.

Key skills include recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits management, learning and development (L&D), organizational climate, employee engagement, labor law, labor relations, and HR tools (Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Bamboo HR). Knowledge of people analytics and data-driven HR is a differentiator.

HR professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master employer branding, people analytics, and talent retention strategies. The field offers opportunities from HR analyst to Chief People Officer, with a focus on culture, engagement, and people growth.

About Content Manager

The Content Manager is the professional responsible for leading the entire content strategy, production, and management of an organization. They define the editorial strategy, coordinate writing teams, and ensure content aligns with business goals and brand identity.

Key skills include content strategy, editorial planning, content audit, buyer persona, customer journey, content ops, content governance, performance metrics (ROI, engagement, organic traffic), and team management. Knowledge of WordPress, Contentful, Notion, and analytics tools is a differentiator.

Content Managers in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who can align content with conversion funnels, lead multidisciplinary teams, and use data to optimize editorial strategy. The field offers opportunities from content manager to head of content, with a focus on strategy, quality, and scale.

About Fullstack

Fullstack developers are versatile professionals capable of working on both frontend and backend of web and mobile applications. They master multiple technologies and can build complete products end-to-end, from the user interface to server infrastructure.

Key skills include proficiency in at least one complete stack (React/Vue/Angular + Node.js/PHP/Python/Java), databases (SQL and NoSQL), REST/GraphQL APIs, Git versioning, CI/CD, and basic infrastructure knowledge (Docker, cloud). Clean architecture, DDD, and testing are important differentiators.

Fullstack developers are highly valued in startups and companies that need versatile and autonomous professionals. The field offers opportunities from junior developer to software architect, with a focus on complete delivery, holistic product vision, and ability to work across multiple application layers.

Career Guides

Technology Career Guide

Planning, skills, interviews, and professional growth in IT, Data Science, DevOps, and Product.

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Design Career Guide

UX/UI, Graphic Design, Product Design. Portfolio, tools, interviews, and growth in the Design field.

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Marketing Career Guide

SEO, Paid Media, Growth, Content Marketing. Certifications, tools, and strategies to grow in Digital Marketing.

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Finance Career Guide

Financial market, investments, corporate finance, certifications, and strategies to grow in the financial field.

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Communication Career Guide

Journalism, PR, Corporate Communication, Content Marketing, and Multimedia Production.

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Administration Career Guide

Business Management, HR, Logistics, Consulting, Project Management, and Entrepreneurship.

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Data Career Guide

Data Science, Data Engineering, BI, Machine Learning, and AI. From training to the job market.

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Product Career Guide

Product Management, Product Ownership, Agile, Scrum, and OKRs. From strategy to execution.

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Tech & Remote Glossary

Stop getting lost in interviews and job descriptions

The job market, especially within tech and global companies, has developed its own dialect. Not understanding these acronyms can make you lose valuable opportunities or poorly negotiate your contract. To end this problem, we created the Definitive Glossary for the Remote Professional.

🏢 Work Models & Routine

Async (Asynchronous Work)
A communication model where responses don't need to be immediate. Instead of back-to-back meetings, the team relies on well-structured documents, threads, and messages. It's the gold standard for global companies spanning multiple time zones.
Sync (Synchronous Work)
The opposite of Async. It requires the team to be online and available at the same time for meetings, live chats, and real-time collaboration.
Daily / Stand-up
A quick daily meeting (usually 15 minutes) common in Agile (Scrum) methodologies. The team answers three questions: What did I do yesterday? What will I do today? Are there any blockers?
All-Hands / Town Hall
A company-wide meeting involving all employees. Usually led by the founders (C-Levels) to present results, new goals, and answer team questions.
1:1 (One-on-One)
A recurring individual meeting between a professional and their direct manager. It is used for career alignment, feedback, and problem-solving, not just for project status updates.

💰 Contracts, Benefits & Compensation

PTO (Paid Time Off)
Instead of strict, categorized leave policies, modern US companies usually offer a flexible pool of days (e.g., 20 days of PTO, or even "Unlimited PTO") that you can use for vacations, sick days, or personal matters, while receiving your regular compensation.
Equity / Stock Options
Company ownership. The startup offers you the right to buy shares at a heavily discounted strike price in the future. If the company grows, goes public, or is acquired, these shares can be highly lucrative.
Vesting (Vesting Schedule)
The rule that controls your Equity. It usually lasts 4 years. You don't get all the shares on day one; you "earn" them gradually as you stay with the company. A "1-year Cliff" means you must stay for at least one year to receive your first batch of shares.
RSUs (Restricted Stock Units)
Unlike Stock Options (where you have the right to buy the stock), RSUs are actual shares the company grants you as a bonus or part of your compensation package, following a strict Vesting schedule.
Independent Contractor (1099 / B2B)
The most common international hiring model for global talent working for US companies. You act as a service provider (business-to-business), receiving the gross salary (often six-figure compensation) without standard local payroll tax deductions at the source.

🤖 Recruitment & Hiring Process

ATS (Applicant Tracking System)
The "robot" that reads your resume. Software like Greenhouse, Ashby, and Workday are used to filter candidates by keywords before a human even looks at the document. (Pro tip: this is why your resume must be clean, semantic, and have the right keywords).
JD (Job Description)
The document that lists the responsibilities, technical requirements, and benefits of the open position.
Cultural Fit
The interview stage that evaluates if your core values, communication style, and worldview align with the company's culture. This is the ultimate test of your Soft Skills.
Onboarding
The integration process. It's the period of your first few weeks at the company, where you get your access credentials, learn about the culture, study the internal documentation, and understand how the product works.

🚀 How to use this to your advantage?

The secret isn't just knowing what these acronyms mean, but using them actively. If during an interview for a premium tech role you ask, "How does your PTO policy and Vesting schedule work?", the recruiter will immediately perceive you as a high-level professional, familiar with the global market standards.

The remote job market requires preparation. And having the right vocabulary is the first big step to securing six-figure proposals and standing out among thousands of applicants.

Expert Tip

The New Account Manager Profile: How to Land the Best Remote B2B SaaS Jobs

The Evolution of Account Management: Beyond Relationship Building

If you are aiming for an Account Manager (AM), Key Account Manager (KAM), or Enterprise Account Director role in 2026, it is crucial to understand that the traditional "order-taker" profile focused solely on charisma is a thing of the past. In tech companies, especially within the B2B SaaS (Software as a Service) model, Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is higher than ever. Consequently, retaining and expanding the existing customer base are now the primary drivers of profitability.

Recruiters at tech giants and hyper-growth startups are looking for hybrid professionals: individuals with sharp emotional intelligence, but who also possess strong analytical skills to interpret usage data and prevent churn. If your resume does not reflect this duality, you will quickly be filtered out by modern ATS algorithms.

3 Critical Skills to Make Your Resume Stand Out

1. Mastery of Data-Driven Strategies

An elite Account Manager does not wait for the client to complain before taking action. They actively monitor account health. During interviews, you must be able to discuss how you leverage CRM tools (like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Pipedrive) and Customer Success platforms (like Gainsight or Totango) to identify Upsell and Cross-sell opportunities.

"B2B sales teams that adopt data-driven and AI-backed strategies perform substantially better in customer retention and account expansion."

— Gartner Report on B2B Sales

2. Bridging the Gap Between Client and Engineering (Product Feedback Loop)

You will act as the voice of the customer within the company. The most competitive roles require the AM to translate client business pains into actionable insights for Product Managers (PMs) and Software Engineers. In your portfolio of achievements, always mention how your clients' feedback helped shape the product roadmap, resulting in new features and increased Net Promoter Scores (NPS).

3. Asynchronous Communication and Remote Strategic Consulting

With remote work firmly established globally, traditional in-person business lunches have been replaced by strategic Zoom calls and asynchronous alignments. You need to demonstrate your ability to lead a Quarterly Business Review (QBR) effectively in a remote setting, presenting ROI (Return on Investment) reports that easily justify contract renewals.

Practical Interview Tips

When you reach the interview stage with a VP of Sales or Head of Customer Success, drop the generic speech and bring concrete numbers to the table. Structure your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

  • Focus on Net Revenue Retention (NRR): Do not just state how many accounts you managed; explain how you successfully grew the revenue of those accounts over time.
  • Conflict Resolution: Have a ready-to-tell example of an "at-risk" account that you managed to turn around and save from churning.
  • Onboarding and Adoption: Explain your methodology for ensuring that the client fully adopts and utilizes the software from day one.

The Path to Six-Figure Remote Roles

The US tech market remains highly competitive, with enterprise account roles in startups and scale-ups consistently offering six-figure base salaries plus aggressive OTE (On-Target Earnings). However, simply applying through standard job boards often leads your resume straight into a black hole. To access the "hidden job market" of premium US Remote opportunities, smart networking and utilizing curated tech platforms are absolute requirements.

"The best sales opportunities are not the ones you merely apply for; they are the ones your reputation and network qualify you for in advance."

— Harvard Business Review: The Future of B2B Sales