OpenAI · 10 hours ago
Optical Network Engineer
San Francisco, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$310K/yr - $380K/yr
7+ years expOpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. The Optical Network Engineer will be responsible for validating and scaling high-speed optical links across distributed computing environments and will collaborate with hardware engineers and system architects to guide end-to-end system design.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Generative AIMachine LearningNatural Language ProcessingSaaS
Responsibilities
Characterize and validate optical modules and links using TP1–TP4 testing metrics and workflows
Work with IM/DD pluggable optics (FRO and LPO), NPO and CPO optical form factors, single-mode and multi-mode systems, and perform practical link simulation and design
Troubleshoot live network optical issues and drive continuous improvement in large-scale environments
Automate testing and data workflows (Python preferred; AI tools welcome)
Support fiber plant setup, lab routing, patch panels, and network rollout — hands-on with fiber handling
Specify switches, transceivers, and optical components for OpenAI deployments across multiple data center environments and geographies
Interface with vendors, researchers, and internal stakeholders to assess technology readiness and drive component and system-level evaluations
Develop, lead and execute on internal testing strategies to qualify optics in production environments, including CWDM and DWDM systems
Contribute to cross-functional architectural efforts involving custom silicon, high-performance interconnects, and global-scale networks
Qualification
Required
7+ years of experience in large-scale optical networking or photonic systems design and deployment, including hands-on involvement with system design
Ph.D. in Optical Fiber Communication or related field
Familiar with coherent optical technology
Experience with CMIS-based module management and SONiC
Experience with high-density optical modules or interconnect architectures
Experience working in small, high-ownership engineering teams that operate across hardware and systems boundaries
Strong communication and technical leadership skills with a collaborative, pragmatic approach
Preferred
Experience with IM/DD pluggable optics (FRO and LPO), NPO and CPO optical form factors, single-mode and multi-mode systems
Experience troubleshooting live network optical issues and driving continuous improvement in large-scale environments
Experience automating testing and data workflows (Python preferred; AI tools welcome)
Experience supporting fiber plant setup, lab routing, patch panels, and network rollout — hands-on with fiber handling
Experience specifying switches, transceivers, and optical components for deployments across multiple data center environments and geographies
Experience interfacing with vendors, researchers, and internal stakeholders to assess technology readiness and drive component and system-level evaluations
Experience developing, leading and executing on internal testing strategies to qualify optics in production environments, including CWDM and DWDM systems
Experience contributing to cross-functional architectural efforts involving custom silicon, high-performance interconnects, and global-scale networks
Company
OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company that develops advanced AI models, including ChatGPT. It is a sub-organization of OpenAI Foundation.
201-500 employees
H1B Sponsorship
OpenAI has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (1)
2024 (1)
2023 (1)
2022 (18)
2021 (10)
2020 (6)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$79BKey Investors
The Walt Disney CompanySoftBankThrive Capital
2025-12-11Corporate Round· $1B
2025-10-02Secondary Market· $6.6B
2025-03-31Series Unknown· $40B
Leadership Team
Sam Altman
CEO & Co-Founder
Greg Brockman
President, Chairman, & Co-Founder
Recent News
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Company data provided by crunchbase