OpenAI FDE interview questions
OpenAI posts the role as Forward Deployed Engineer, on its Forward Deployed Engineering team, and posts a separate Forward Deployed Software Engineer title as well. Source 1Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - SF | OpenAIPublisherOpenAISource typecompany job postingSource 2Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - SF (Ashby)PublisherOpenAI (Ashby job board)Source typecompany job postingSource 3Forward Deployed Software Engineer - SF (Ashby)PublisherOpenAI (Ashby job board)Source typecompany job postingSource 4Forward Deployed Software Engineer - NYC (Ashby)PublisherOpenAI (Ashby job board)Source typecompany job posting
In our September 2026 count of public postings, OpenAI had 22 matching postings, and none was remote. Source 5Our analysis: FDE posting censusPublisherfdeinterviewprep.com researchSource typeour analysis of public data
OpenAI’s general interview guide says skills assessments vary by team and may include pair coding, a take-home project or a technical test. Source 6Interview Guide | OpenAIPublisherOpenAISource typecompany hiring page
The same guide says final interviews are virtual by default, with an optional onsite in San Francisco. Source 6Interview Guide | OpenAIPublisherOpenAISource typecompany hiring page
It says expectations for AI tools vary by interview. Some formats allow them, and others test how you solve problems without them. Source 6Interview Guide | OpenAIPublisherOpenAISource typecompany hiring page
As of September 2026, the San Francisco Forward Deployed Engineer posting requires travel of up to 50%. Source 1Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - SF | OpenAIPublisherOpenAISource typecompany job posting
Each question here is tagged OpenAI because a source names OpenAI and the round. The tag says what kind of source it is, and its number opens it.
What OpenAI publishes about its hiring, and what candidates report, is in the OpenAI guide.
- What customer-facing experience do you have? Be specific about who the customer was.
- Reported at OpenAISource 1OpenAI Forward Deployed Software Engineer (comment by u/aksss123)PublisherReddit r/leetcodeSource typecandidate report on RedditSource 2OpenAI Forward Deployed Software Engineer (comment by u/aksss123)PublisherReddit r/leetcodeSource typecandidate report on RedditSource 3OpenAI Forward Deployed Software Engineer (comment by u/aksss123)PublisherReddit r/leetcodeSource typecandidate report on Reddit
- State the time and space complexity of your solution and say when it would matter in production.
- Reported at OpenAISource 2OpenAI Forward Deployed Engineer Interview ExperiencePublisherAced (formerly Exponent), candidate-submitted experienceSource typecandidate’s personal write-up
- Which of our APIs or products have you built with, and what did you find limiting?
- Reported at OpenAISource 1OpenAI Forward Deployed Software Engineer (comment by u/aksss123)PublisherReddit r/leetcodeSource typecandidate report on RedditSource 2OpenAI Forward Deployed Software Engineer (comment by u/aksss123)PublisherReddit r/leetcodeSource typecandidate report on RedditSource 3OpenAI Forward Deployed Software Engineer (comment by u/aksss123)PublisherReddit r/leetcodeSource typecandidate report on Reddit
- In your take-home you chose one approach over the obvious alternative. Defend that choice as if I were the customer’s architect.
- Reported at OpenAISource 2OpenAI Forward Deployed Engineer Interview ExperiencePublisherAced (formerly Exponent), candidate-submitted experienceSource typecandidate’s personal write-up
All FDE interview questions, by round