# 3P Architect

**Company:** [OpenAI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/openai)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA
**Role:** DevOps / SRE
**Salary:** $342k – $555k/yr
**Skills:** AI Infrastructure, System Architecture, Performance Modeling, Gpus, Asics, Interconnects, Data Center Networking, Odm, Jdm, Rack Design, Cluster Design
**Posted:** 2026-04-20

> Defines rack- and cluster-level reference architectures for AI infrastructure, translates workload requirements into designs, collaborates with partners and modeling teams to evaluate tradeoffs, and drives vendor roadmaps to address technology gaps.

## Job Description

## Key Responsibilities
- Define rack- and cluster-level reference architectures for AI infrastructure deployments.
- Translate workload requirements into clear system design specifications and partner deliverables.
- Collaborate with performance modeling teams to evaluate architectural tradeoffs and system behaviors.
- Align internal stakeholders and external partners on critical system attributes (performance, cost, power, reliability, scalability).
- Identify gaps in current technology offerings and drive vendors (ODM/JDM, silicon, networking) to close those gaps.
- Influence and shape vendor roadmaps to meet future infrastructure needs.
- Track emerging technologies and evaluate their applicability to AI systems.
- Define and lead proof-of-concept (PoC) efforts to validate new architectures and technologies.
- Act as a key interface between OpenAI and external partners, ensuring execution against design intent.

## Qualifications
- Strong experience in system architecture for large-scale infrastructure or data center environments.
- Understand AI workload characteristics and how they map to system-level design decisions.
- Comfortable working with performance modeling outputs to inform architectural direction.
- Experience working with or managing hardware vendors (ODM/JDM, silicon, networking).
- Can drive alignment across multiple stakeholders with competing constraints.
- Track record of turning ambiguous requirements into clear, executable system designs.
- Proactive in identifying gaps and driving solutions across organizational boundaries.

## Preferred Skills
- Experience defining rack- or cluster-level systems for hyperscale or AI workloads.
- Familiarity with accelerators (GPUs/ASICs), interconnects, and data center networking architectures.
- Experience influencing vendor roadmaps and reference designs.
- Background in infrastructure deployment, hardware engineering, or systems integration.
- Experience leading PoCs or early-stage hardware validation efforts.

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