# 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, Networking, DevOps, Observability
**Posted:** 2026-08-05

> Build and operate backend API platform capabilities for enterprise controls, spanning authentication, networking, compliance, observability, and distributed systems. The role requires 9+ years of engineering experience, strong backend systems expertise, product judgment, and the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Own backend product capabilities 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 careful attention to developer experience.
- Build, operate, and debug highly reliable backend systems spanning databases, streaming infrastructure, request routing, and distributed services.

## Requirements
- 9+ years of professional engineering experience, excluding internships, in relevant backend, platform, or product-driven engineering roles.
- Exceptional backend engineering depth and strong product judgment, with 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 detail.


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