System Software Engineer

OpenAI is looking for a System Software Engineer to design, implement, and debug the foundational software that enables our products. You’ll work across the OS stack—kernel, drivers, and userspace daemons—and own pipelines for building and updating device images. Your work will span performance tuning, security hardening, and deep system debugging.

We’re looking for engineers who thrive in complex, cross-disciplinary environments, can take ownership from concept to release, and are passionate about shipping robust, production-grade systems.

• Design, implement, and debug kernel modules, device drivers, and userspace daemons
• Configure and maintain the OS: kernel, initramfs, init services, udev rules, networking, and security hardening
• Build and operate image/OTA pipelines (Yocto/Buildroot, package management, A/B updates, dm-verity)
• Instrument and analyze performance with perf, eBPF, ftrace; optimize CPU, memory, I/O, and power usage
• Own system observability and reliability: logging, crash capture, watchdogs, and field diagnostics
• Collaborate with hardware, camera/vision, and application teams to define interfaces and deliver features
• Establish strong engineering practices: code review, CI, reproducible builds, and release management
• Work with vendors and support system builds in the factory

• Have deep experience shipping Linux-based products on hardware devices (arm
  64 or x86)
• Are proficient in C/C++ and comfortable with embedded Linux internals (drivers, IRQs, power management, file systems, networking)
• Have strong systems debugging skills with gdb, strace, perf/eBPF, jtag, and kernel logs
• Understand kernel device tree overlays, I2S, I2C, SPI, CSI/DSI
• Are fluent in userspace foundations: systemd, D-Bus, sockets/IPC, udev, networking tools, shell/Python
• Have experience building OS images and packages (Yocto/Buildroot, Debian/RPM, Docker) and OTA updates
• Bonus points for:

$405K - offers equity

The base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

In addition to the salary range listed above, total compensation also includes generous equity and benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
• Mental health and wellness support
• 401(k) plan with 50% matching
• Generous time off, many company holidays, and multiple coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge.
• Paid parental leave (24 weeks paid birth-parent leave & 20-week paid parental leave) and family-planning support
• Annual learning & development stipend ($1,500 per year)

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.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act. 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.

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