ChatGPT Performance Engineer

OpenAI

ChatGPT Performance Engineer at OpenAI optimizing performance and efficiency across application and infrastructure layers. Collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive systemic performance improvements.

Posted 4/15/2026full-timeSan Francisco • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLead💰 $325,000 - $405,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Distributed SystemsGoPython

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Analyze and optimize performance across application, middleware, runtime, and infrastructure layers—networking, storage, Python runtime, GPU utilization, and beyond.
Develop tooling and metrics that provide deep observability into system performance.
Collaborate closely with infra, platform, training, and product teams to identify key performance goals and drive systemic improvements.
Influence architecture and design decisions to prioritize latency, throughput, and efficiency at scale.
Lead investigations into high-impact performance regressions or scalability issues in production.
Drive performance testing strategies and help define SLAs/SLOs around latency and throughput for critical systems.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Have 7+ years of experience in software engineering with a strong track record in performance or reliability of high-scale distributed systems.
Are deeply comfortable with performance profiling tools and tracing systems.
Have experience optimizing performance across one or more layers of the stack (e.g., database, networking, storage, application runtime, GC tuning, Python/Golang internals, GPU utilization).
Have a strong understanding of OS internals, scheduling, memory management, and IO patterns.
Have contributed to observability, benchmarking, or performance-focused infrastructure at scale.
Have demonstrated success navigating ambiguity and aligning stakeholders around performance goals.
Value simplicity, rigor, and collaboration when solving complex systems problems.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts
Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses (parking and transit)
401(k) retirement plan with employer match
Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents), plus paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)
Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
13+ paid company holidays, and multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge, plus paid sick or safe time (1 hour per 30 hours worked, or more, as required by applicable state or local law)
Mental health and wellness support
Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage
Annual learning and development stipend to fuel your professional growth
Daily meals in our offices, and meal delivery credits as eligible
Relocation support for eligible employees
Additional taxable fringe benefits, such as charitable donation matching and wellness stipends, may also be provided.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

PythonGolangperformance profiling toolstracing systemsdatabase optimizationnetworking optimizationstorage optimizationapplication runtime optimizationGC tuningGPU utilization

Soft Skills

collaborationinfluenceleadershipproblem-solvingnavigating ambiguitystakeholder alignmentsimplicityrigor