Senior Technical Sourcer, Applications Engineering
Application analysis
Senior Technical Sourcer, Applications Engineering at OpenAI is a forward deployed ai research lab role for engineers who want customer-facing technical work with real deployment ownership.
Reading this role
This Technical customer-facing role role centers on hands-on work with customers to ship and adopt technical products. Key signals from the listing: 5+ years experience, Senior scope.
About OpenAI
OpenAI ships frontier models to real customers through small, high-trust engineering teams. Forward deployed roles sit between product, research, and enterprise buyers. The role is anchored in San Francisco, so expect on-site customer work in that region.
Signals in the listing
Stand out for Senior Technical Sourcer, Applications Engineering
- Lead your application with one paragraph tying Senior Technical Sourcer, Applications Engineering to a specific customer or deployment you owned — OpenAI hires for shipped outcomes, not tool lists.
- Mirror language from the job description in your examples — if they emphasize deployment, use deployment stories; if integration, use integration stories.
- Include a short “how I work with customers” section in your cover note: communication cadence, escalation instincts, and how you handle ambiguity.
- This role is tied to San Francisco — mention willingness to work on-site with customers and any existing ties to that market (clients, partners, or domain knowledge).
Stand out at OpenAI
- Demonstrate customer obsession with safety constraints with a concrete example — OpenAI will probe for specifics, not buzzwords.
- Demonstrate writing and communication with a concrete example — OpenAI will probe for specifics, not buzzwords.
- Interview loops emphasize problem decomposition, taste in product, and whether you can earn trust with technical and non-technical stakeholders quickly.
- Read recent engineering blog posts, product launches, and customer stories on openai.com — reference one explicitly in your outreach to show genuine interest.
Tailored from this listing’s title, company, and description. Always verify requirements on the company careers page before applying.
Role description
ABOUT THE TEAM At OpenAI, we are dedicated to building safe artificial general intelligence (AGI) to benefit all of humanity. Our mission attracts the world’s top talent in science, engineering, and business to address one of the most ambitious challenges of our times. The Recruiting team is at the heart of this mission, tasked with identifying and hiring exceptional individuals who align with OpenAI's values and cultural ambitions. Our approach to recruitment aims to set the standard for excellence and innovation in the field, connecting outstanding candidates with opportunities to impact the future of AI. ABOUT THE ROLE As a Senior Technical Sourcer at OpenAI, you will play a key role in identifying and engaging top-tier engineering talent across a broad range of technical domains. Your focus will be on sourcing exceptional software engineers and technical talent to help build world-class teams advancing our mission in AI research and deployment. IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL: - Lead sourcing strategies to identify and engage candidates across a variety of engineering disciplines, including software engineering, backend systems, product engineering, and related technical areas. - Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of passive candidates through proactive outreach, research, and networking. - Collaborate closely with hiring managers and technical leaders to deeply understand hiring needs and refine sourcing approaches accordingly. - Leverage advanced sourcing techniques and tools to identify and attract exceptional talent. - Represent OpenAI at industry events and conferences to promote our mission and connect with potential candidates. - Maintain accurate and organized candidate data and metrics to inform sourcing strategies and decision-making. YOU MIGHT THRIVE IN THIS ROLE IF YOU HAVE: - 5+ years of experience in technical sourcing, with a focus on engineering or technical roles. - A proven track record of successfully sourcing candidates across a range of software