Synced from Ashby · Feb 6

Machine Learning Engineer, Distributed Data Systems

OpenAISan FranciscoPosted Feb 6, 2026
Machine Learning EngineerRemoteMid
Apply now - freeSave & get alerts

Mirrored from OpenAI's own Ashby careers system · refreshed hourly

785
Other open OpenAI roles
Feb 6
Posted
Ashby
Applicant system
Job description

About the Team

The OpenAI Robotics team is focused on unlocking general-purpose robotics and pushing towards AGI-level intelligence in dynamic, real-world settings. Working across the entire model stack, we integrate cutting-edge hardware and software to explore a broad range of robotic form factors. We strive to seamlessly blend high-level AI capabilities with the constraints of physical systems to improve peoples’ lives.

About the Role

As a Research Engineer, Distributed Data Systems, you will design and scale the infrastructure that powers large-scale multimodal training and evaluation at OpenAI. You’ll manage distributed data pipelines, collaborate closely with researchers to translate requirements into robust systems, and harden pipelines that serve as the backbone for OpenAI's rapid iteration cycles.

We’re looking for engineers who are detail-oriented, have strong experience with distributed systems, and excel at building reliable infrastructure in high-stakes environments.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

In this role, you will:

  • Design, build, and maintain data infrastructure systems such as distributed compute, data orchestration, distributed storage, streaming infrastructure, machine learning infrastructure while ensuring scalability, reliability, and security.

  • Ensure our data platform can scale by orders of magnitude while remaining reliable and efficient.

  • Partner with researchers to deeply understand requirements and translate them into production-ready systems.

  • Harden, optimize, and maintain critical data infrastructure systems that power multimodal training and evaluation.

You might thrive in this role if you:

  • Have strong experience with distributed systems and large-scale infrastructure with a strong interest in data.

  • Are detail-oriented and bring rigor to building and maintaining reliable systems.

  • Demonstrate excellent software engineering fundamentals and organizational skills.

  • Are comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity. 

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.

For additional information, please see OpenAI’s Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.

Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.

To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.

OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy

At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

View original posting on Ashby

What applying to OpenAI usually looks like

Based on publicly available information, candidates applying through ashby can generally expect an online application followed by an automated confirmation email. Ashby-based processes commonly include an initial resume screen, potentially followed by a recruiter conversation, and may include multiple stages such as technical or role-specific assessments, panel interviews, and a final round with hiring managers or team members. Some roles at OpenAI may involve take-home exercises or live problem-solving sessions depending on function. Communication is typically handled through the Ashby candidate portal or email, and response times vary widely depending on team needs and volume of applicants. Candidates should generally expect to track application status through Ashby's system, and may receive automated updates as their application moves through different stages of review.

Based on publicly available information. LandEarly does not verify interview process details.

Land this one early - before the req fills.

LandEarly tailors your resume and screening answers to each posting, submits within minutes of a role going live, and tracks every application in one place.

Free to start · No credit card · Cancel anytime

Keep exploring

What this role pays, where else it is open, and how to write the application.

Machine Learning Engineer, Distributed Data Systems
OpenAI · San Francisco
Apply