Job Description
About The Company
OpenAI is a leading artificial intelligence research and deployment organization committed to ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. With a focus on advancing AI capabilities safely and responsibly, OpenAI develops cutting-edge AI models and tools that have the potential to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges. The company values diversity, inclusion, and ethical considerations, striving to create an environment where innovation thrives alongside safety and human-centered design. OpenAI's mission is to ensure that artificial intelligence remains a beneficial force for society, fostering collaboration across industries and communities to achieve this goal.
About The Role
The Fullstack Engineer for Child Safety Tools & Systems at OpenAI plays a vital role in developing and maintaining systems that detect, analyze, and disrupt abuse across OpenAI’s products. This position involves building data-intensive, AI-powered applications and infrastructure to support operators and investigators working on high-severity safety issues. The engineer will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Policy, Platform Integrity, Safety Systems, and Research, to design and implement tools that enable efficient review and intervention. The role requires a proactive approach to solving complex problems in fast-paced environments, with an emphasis on creating reliable, user-centric solutions that enhance safety measures for vulnerable populations. This position is based in San Francisco, CA, with a hybrid work model and relocation support available for new hires.
This role involves exposure to sensitive and egregious content, demanding a high level of professionalism, discretion, and technical expertise. The engineer will prototype, develop, and maintain systems that facilitate rapid detection and review of harmful content, ensuring safety workflows are optimized for accuracy and speed. They will also contribute to strategic planning, impact reporting, and continuous improvement of child safety tools, aligning technical solutions with organizational safety goals.
Qualifications
- Strong foundation in software engineering principles and practices
- Proficiency in Python and/or TypeScript
- Experience building and operating large-scale data pipelines or search/retrieval systems
- Familiarity with tools such as Spark, Kafka, Flink, data warehouses, and SQL
- Experience designing end-to-end systems, including UI, backend services, and data infrastructure
- Ability to work independently and in collaborative, cross-functional teams
- Experience working on safety-critical or high-severity harm mitigation projects
- Comfort navigating ambiguous and evolving problem spaces
- Product-minded approach with a focus on user workflows and iterative development
- Ability to ship pragmatic solutions quickly in low-support environments
- Prior experience with investigative or operational workflows is a plus
- Knowledge of child safety-specific challenges, such as secure handling of quarantined content and reporting to NCMEC, is a bonus
- Prototype, build, and maintain intelligence systems for detecting, triaging, and enabling review of high-severity harmful content
- Develop user interfaces, backend services, pipelines, and infrastructure components required for safety operations
- Collaborate with operators and investigators to design systems that enhance their efficiency, accuracy, and safety
- Integrate new AI models and APIs into safety tools to leverage the latest capabilities
- Contribute to the technical strategy and roadmap for child safety tools and systems
- Monitor, analyze, and report on the impact of safety systems using data-driven approaches
- Engage with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment of safety initiatives with organizational goals
- Maintain awareness of emerging safety challenges and incorporate best practices into system design
- Participate in code reviews, testing, and documentation to ensure high-quality deliverables
- Respond swiftly to feedback and iterate on safety tools to improve performance and reliability
- Competitive salary package ranging from $220K to $320K plus equity options
- Flexible hybrid work environment with three days in the office per week
- Relocation assistance for eligible candidates
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
- Generous paid time off and holidays
- Professional development opportunities and continuous learning support
- Inclusive and diverse work environment that values different perspectives
- Access to cutting-edge AI research and tools
OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act. We are dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If you require accommodations, please contact us through the specified channels.