Jigar Bhati, a member of technical staff at OpenAI since 2023, shares insider insights on what it takes to land a coveted engineering position at one of the world’s most influential AI companies. After spending nearly seven years as a software engineer at Twitter, Bhati made the leap to OpenAI, drawn by the company’s startup-like environment and the transformative potential of its products.
Bhati’s journey to OpenAI began when ChatGPT launched, leaving software engineers worldwide in awe of its capabilities. Unlike many products he’d worked on before, ChatGPT created an immediate personal connection—he could see the massive opportunity and impact potential. Looking back on his two-year tenure, Bhati confirms those expectations were met, describing exponential professional growth while working alongside what he considers “probably the best talent out there.”
The key to getting hired at OpenAI, according to Bhati, centers on several critical factors. First, relevant work experience is paramount. His background in infrastructure capabilities and handling large-scale distributed systems at Twitter directly aligned with OpenAI’s needs as the company faced significant scaling challenges. Finding the right team match within the organization is crucial—candidates should target teams where their expertise most closely aligns with current needs.
Public visibility and networking also played a significant role in Bhati’s success. Conference talks, discussions, and networking helped him stay current with state-of-the-art technological advancements while building his professional reputation. These public references provided credibility during the interview process.
Bhati emphasizes that cultural fit is essential at OpenAI, which operates as one of the fastest-growing companies globally. Engineers must be comfortable shipping products daily or weekly, moving at an intense pace. Passion for solving hard problems and genuine enthusiasm for OpenAI’s mission are non-negotiable requirements.
Interestingly, OpenAI isn’t exclusively for experienced engineers. The company actively hires new graduates and interns, with Bhati noting how impressive it is to see fresh talent contribute innovative ideas and capabilities. Whether starting at a startup or large tech company, what matters most is demonstrating a strong career trajectory with evidence of solving real, large-scale problems.
Two years in, Bhati reports that OpenAI maintains its startup culture despite massive scaling in engineers, products, and users. The velocity and productivity exceed his experiences at other companies, with engineers empowered to provide feedback that shapes products used by 700 million users worldwide. Having early access to models like GPT-5 and influencing their direction represents the kind of impact engineers can make at the company.
Key Quotes
When ChatGPT launched, software engineers were in awe. So I was already using it before joining OpenAI. I was fascinated by the product itself. There was definitely that connection with the product that, as a software engineer, you often don’t feel.
Jigar Bhati explains what initially drew him to OpenAI, highlighting how ChatGPT’s launch created unprecedented excitement among engineers and established an emotional connection rarely felt with software products—a key factor in his decision to leave Twitter after seven years.
OpenAI hires probably the best talent out there. You’re contributing while also learning from different people, so there’s exponential growth in your professional career as well.
Bhati describes the caliber of talent at OpenAI and how working alongside top engineers accelerates professional development, emphasizing that the learning environment is as valuable as the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking AI products.
I think OpenAI is probably one of the fastest-growing companies in the world, so you really need to move fast as part of that environment. You’re shipping, or delivering, daily or weekly.
This quote reveals the intense pace and productivity expectations at OpenAI, where engineers must be comfortable with rapid iteration cycles—a cultural requirement that distinguishes candidates who will thrive from those who won’t fit the environment.
Every engineer is empowered to provide feedback that will help improve the model, add new capabilities, and make it more usable and user-friendly for all the different 700 million users out there.
Bhati highlights the remarkable scope of impact available to OpenAI engineers, noting that even individual contributors can influence products serving hundreds of millions of users globally, including early access to models like GPT-5 before public launch.
Our Take
Bhati’s account reveals that success at OpenAI requires more than technical excellence—it demands a unique combination of relevant infrastructure experience, public credibility, and cultural alignment with breakneck innovation cycles. His emphasis on daily shipping cycles reflects how AI companies operate fundamentally differently from traditional tech firms, where monthly or quarterly release cycles remain common.
Particularly noteworthy is OpenAI’s ability to maintain startup agility while serving 700 million users—a scale that typically forces companies toward bureaucracy and slower decision-making. This suggests OpenAI has cracked the code on scaling without sacrificing velocity, giving it a significant competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The accessibility to new graduates and interns also signals that OpenAI is investing in long-term talent development rather than exclusively hiring experienced engineers, potentially creating a new generation of AI-native developers who will shape the industry’s future.
Why This Matters
This insider perspective on hiring at OpenAI provides crucial insights into one of the AI industry’s most sought-after employers at a pivotal moment in artificial intelligence development. As AI companies compete intensely for top engineering talent, understanding what OpenAI values—relevant infrastructure experience, public visibility, cultural fit, and passion for solving hard problems—offers a roadmap for professionals seeking to enter the AI field.
The revelation that OpenAI maintains its startup culture despite serving 700 million users highlights how the company balances rapid scaling with innovation velocity, a challenge facing the entire AI industry. Bhati’s emphasis on daily shipping cycles and continuous product iteration reflects the breakneck pace of AI development, where companies must innovate constantly to maintain competitive advantages.
For the broader tech workforce, this story underscores how AI is reshaping career trajectories and professional development. The opportunity to work on products with global impact, combined with exponential learning from world-class talent, makes AI companies attractive destinations for ambitious engineers. As AI continues transforming industries, understanding how to position oneself for these roles becomes increasingly valuable for technology professionals at all career stages.
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