Hybrid Hardware Tools Engineer

at OpenAI

• Job title: Hardware Tools Engineer
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: $225,000 - $445,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Tech skills: Open Source, Python, Rust
• Location requirements: Hybrid, San Francisco, United States

About the role

• Developing and evolving tooling ecosystem for hardware engineers at OpenAI. Collaborating with architects and designers to improve hardware tool workflows and reliability.

Responsibilities

• Build and improve the software tooling that makes hardware teams faster: compilation, IR transforms, RTL generation, simulation, debug, and automation.
• Extend and integrate hardware compiler stacks (frontends, IR passes, lowering, scheduling, codegen to Verilog/SystemVerilog) and connect them to real design workflows.
• Improve developer experience and reliability: reproducible builds, better error messages, faster iteration loops, and dependable CI and regression infrastructure.
• Work closely with designers and verification engineers to turn real pain points into durable tools.
• Dive into RTL when needed: read and reason about Verilog/SystemVerilog to debug issues, validate tool output, and improve debuggability.
• Be willing to go all the way down the stack when necessary, including gate-level views, synthesis results, and implementation artifacts.
• Help enable PPA optimization loops by building analysis and automation around area, timing, and power tradeoffs, and by improving tooling that impacts those outcomes.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain software (projects, internships, research, open source, or equivalent experience)
• Strong CS fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, debugging, and software design.
• Proficiency in at least one of Rust, C++, or Python (and willingness to learn the rest).
• Familiarity with digital design concepts and the ability to read RTL (Verilog/SystemVerilog) or equivalent hardware descriptions.
• Familiarity with compiler or IR-based ideas (representations, passes, transformations, lowering), through coursework or projects.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and iterating quickly with users of your tools.

Benefits

• 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.