Forward deployed engineers bringing AI to enterprises

Forward deployed engineering (FDE) is how OpenAI brings AI into production for complex, real-world use cases.

Instead of starting with a generalized product, FDE teams build bespoke AI systems directly inside the complexity of real-world enterprise environments—where security models, permissions, governance, compliance requirements, operational controls, and legacy infrastructure are core constraints, not edge cases. The work is centered on solving high-value customer problems in production environments where the stakes are real and the impact is measurable. This approach helps organizations move from AI experimentation to reliable deployment.

FDE teams operate in high-ambiguity environments where traditional software approaches break down.

We believe the best AI systems are built from first principles, with a relentless focus on speed and real-world impact. Our teams work alongside domain experts to understand how problems show up in practice, then deliver value early and iterate quickly toward scale. The goal is simple: build AI systems that work in the real world, not just in theory.