# Backend Software Engineer, API Enterprise Controls

**Company:** [OpenAI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/openai)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA
**Role:** Backend Engineering
**Salary:** $293k – $385k/yr
**Experience:** 9+ years
**Skills:** Python, Go, Rust, TypeScript, Distributed Systems, Databases, streaming systems, request routing, Authentication, identity, Networking, DevOps
**Posted:** 2026-07-17

> Backend engineer building secure, scalable enterprise controls for the OpenAI API platform, including authentication, key management, compliance, observability, and secure networking. Requires 9+ years experience leading cross-functional initiatives with strong product judgment and backend systems expertise.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Own backend product capabilities end to end across authentication and identity, service accounts and key controls, secure networking, compliance, observability, and operational workflows.
- Partner with Product, go-to-market, security, infrastructure teams, and sophisticated customers to identify needs, shape the roadmap, and lead large cross-functional projects from design through launch.
- Design developer-facing APIs, system behavior, configuration, error handling, safe defaults, auditing, and notifications with exceptional care for the details that define a great developer experience.
- Build, operate, and debug highly reliable backend systems spanning databases, streaming infrastructure, request routing, and distributed services, with strong operational ownership.

## Requirements
- 9+ years of professional engineering experience, excluding internships, in relevant backend, platform, or product-driven engineering roles.
- Exceptional backend engineering depth paired with strong product judgment and a track record of shipping API or platform capabilities that users depend on.
- Experience leading large cross-functional initiatives, influencing product direction, and aligning engineering, Product, go-to-market, security, and infrastructure partners.
- Proficiency in one or more backend languages such as Python, Go, Rust, TypeScript, or similar, with strong software design and systems fundamentals.
- Experience with distributed systems, databases, streaming systems, request routing, authentication and identity, networking, or enterprise platform controls.
- Strong communication and developer empathy, including experience working closely with product partners and users to turn ambiguous needs into clear technical decisions.
- Strong opinions about reliability, DevOps, and operational excellence, paired with meticulous attention to the details that make complex systems feel simple and dependable.

## Nice-to-Haves
- Experience building API or platform capabilities for developers and enterprises.

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