Manager, Forward Deployed Engineer – Life Sciences

OpenAI

Manager leading a team of FDEs delivering AI systems across drug discovery and development workflows. Ensuring production quality and team performance in regulated environments amid complex scientific engagements.

Posted 7/22/2026full-timeSan Francisco • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLead💰 $252,000 - $335,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates extensive experience in leading engineering teams within regulated life sciences environments, focusing on the delivery of production AI systems. Capable of translating complex scientific and technical requirements into actionable plans while ensuring high standards of execution and team performance.

Highest-signal resume keywords

8+ Years Engineering ExperienceTeam Leadership in Regulated EnvironmentsProduction-Grade Code WritingTechnical Program ManagementLife Sciences R&D Experience

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Production AI Systems DeliveryBackend DevelopmentData EngineeringMachine Learning SystemsArchitectural Decision MakingTechnical Delivery PlanningModel Quality EvaluationWorkflow-Specific BenchmarksRisk ManagementSystems-Oriented Engineering

Soft Skills

Coaching and DevelopmentClear CommunicationJudgmentClarity in ExecutionTechnical Credibility

Industry Keywords

Life SciencesClinical ResearchScientific SoftwareRegulated Data EnvironmentsHigh-Pressure Technical Programs

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead and grow a team of FDEs delivering production AI systems across regulated life sciences environments
Be accountable for your team’s end-to-end delivery outcomes, balancing scope, speed, robustness, and risk in high-stakes deployments
Coach and develop engineers through direct feedback, high technical standards, and clear expectations for execution and ownership
Operate as a player-coach, directly contributing to production systems while leading, coaching, and setting technical direction
Guide teams through ambiguous, multi-workstream engagements spanning data, workflows, infrastructure, security, and scientific stakeholders
Run evaluation loops that measure model and system quality against workflow-specific scientific benchmarks, then convert results into crisp roadmap input

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bring 8+ years of engineering or technical delivery experience, including 2+ years managing high-performing customer-facing or systems-oriented engineering teams
Have led complex, high-pressure technical programs from prototype through sustained production use in regulated environments
Have experience working in or adjacent to life sciences R&D, clinical research, scientific software, or regulated scientific data environments
Write and review production-grade code and can guide architectural decisions across backend, data, and ML-adjacent systems
Translate scientific and technical tradeoffs into clear delivery plans, risk posture, and measurable outcomes across scientific, clinical, technical, and executive audiences
Elevate team performance through clarity, judgment, and technical credibility
Turn field experience into precise, actionable feedback for Product, Research, and GTM teams

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.