# Software Engineer, Backend (Knowledge Innovation)

**Company:** [OpenAI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/openai)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA
**Role:** Backend Engineering
**Salary:** $230k – $385k/yr
**Experience:** 4+ years
**Skills:** Python, FastAPI, Postgres, APIs, Distributed Systems, Data Processing Pipelines, AI/ML, Backend Services
**Posted:** 2026-02-12

> Builds and scales backend services and APIs for OpenAI's knowledge systems, integrating data and AI models into workflows. Requires 4+ years backend experience with Python, FastAPI, Postgres, and distributed systems.

## Job Description

## In this role, you will:
- Design, build, and maintain backend services and APIs to support intelligent automation and knowledge systems
- Integrate and structure data across internal platforms, transforming it into formats optimized for use by downstream systems and AI workflows
- Collaborate closely with product, research, and engineering teams to integrate OpenAI models into high-leverage workflows
- Own the full development lifecycle of new backend systems and internal platform capabilities
- Build with scale and maintainability in mind, while rapidly iterating on new ideas

## You might be a great fit if you have:
- 4+ years of backend engineering experience at product-driven companies (excluding internships)
- Proficiency in backend technologies. Our tech stack includes **Python**, **FastAPI**, and **Postgres**
- Experience designing and scaling distributed systems, APIs, or data processing pipelines
- A pragmatic mindset. You’re comfortable shipping iteratively while building toward a long-term vision
- An interest in structured knowledge representation, internal search, agent infrastructure, or systems that evolve over time
- Curiosity about AI/ML and excitement to work alongside world-class research and product teams (hands-on experience is a bonus, not a must)

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**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/bb1ba095-3307-407c-9278-b25c7426babd
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/bb1ba095-3307-407c-9278-b25c7426babd