Software Engineer - Privacy & Compliance

About the role

We are seeking a Software Engineer to design and implement backend systems focused on data privacy and compliance automation at scale. This position involves collaboration with product, infrastructure, security, and legal teams to integrate privacy considerations into our data management and access frameworks.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Create and maintain backend services that enforce data access policies, lifecycle management, and privacy safeguards.
• Develop distributed authorization mechanisms and identity-aware controls integrated with data services.
• Establish auditability, policy hooks, and observability to ensure ongoing compliance verification.
• Collaborate with Security, Legal, and Compliance teams to translate privacy requirements into scalable technical solutions and user-friendly APIs.
• Strengthen data platforms and backend services with schema-level controls and default data handling constraints.
• Work with infrastructure teams to ensure uniform enforcement across systems while reducing redundant implementations.
• Share best practices, tools, and training to enhance trustworthy data access across the organization.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in building and managing backend or infrastructure systems in a production environment.
• Strong foundation in software engineering, with proficiency in at least one major programming language such as Python, Go, Rust, C++, or Java.
• Experience with distributed authorization, RBAC/ACL systems, encryption-based access, or policy engines.
• Understanding of global privacy regulations and their implications for system architecture.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with teams in legal, compliance, product, and engineering.
• Focus on practical solutions that effectively balance privacy requirements with product functionality.

Nice to have

• Experience with cloud services like Azure, AWS, or GCP, and large-scale data systems.
• Background in security engineering, privacy engineering, or data governance.
• Familiarity with control-plane or metadata-driven enforcement systems.
• Exposure to data platforms or machine learning infrastructure.
• Previous experience in environments with regulated or sensitive data.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is dedicated to AI research and deployment, aiming to ensure that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We strive to push the limits of AI capabilities while prioritizing safety and human needs. Our mission is rooted in valuing diverse perspectives and experiences that reflect the full spectrum of humanity.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Background checks for applicants will be conducted in accordance with applicable laws, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act for US-based candidates. For workers in unincorporated Los Angeles County, certain job duties may require access to secure information technology systems, which could impact employment offers based on criminal history.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made through our dedicated link.

Compensation Range: $230K - $385K