OpenAI

IT Support Specialist

OpenAI · Seattle, WA

  • On site
  • Full-time
  • $95,000 / year
  • Seattle, WA

Job highlights

  • Provide frontline IT support for hardware and software.
  • Manage vendor relationships and equipment inventory.
  • Improve IT processes and systems documentation.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams for seamless employee experience.
  • Requires strong macOS and ideally Windows expertise.

About the role

About The Team

The IT Services and Support team is responsible for providing seamless, efficient, and reliable IT solutions across the organization. We handle frontline IT support, manage vendor relationships and equipment inventory, and continuously improve our processes and documentation to enhance the overall employee experience.

About The Role

As an IT Support Specialist, you will be the first point of contact for troubleshooting hardware, software, and network issues. Your responsibilities include resolving incoming support requests, coordinating with vendors for equipment procurement, repairs, and maintenance, and actively participating in process and systems improvement initiatives. We’re looking for people who are customer-focused, technically proficient, and proactive in enhancing IT processes. You should excel at clear communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, have robust expertise in IT systems (with a strong background in macOS, and ideally Windows), and thrive in collaborative, fast-paced environments. This role is based out of our Bellevue office and requires 5 days in office per week. We offer relocation assistance to new employees.

In This Role, You Will

  • Improve Support Systems and Processes: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for improvement, support the creation and maintenance of repeatable workflows (such as onboarding and device imaging), and contribute innovative ideas during IT team meetings.
  • Collaborate across OpenAI: Work closely with cross-functional teams (Security, Facilities, People Ops, etc.) to ensure seamless employee experiences. Clearly articulate issues, potential solutions, and timelines to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Act as Frontline IT Support: Serve as the primary point of contact for troubleshooting hardware, software, and network issues, ensuring prompt and reliable resolution of employee requests.
  • Manage Vendors and Equipment: Coordinate with vendors for procurement, repairs, and maintenance while managing hardware and software inventories to maintain secure, up-to-date, and standardized systems.

You Might Thrive In This Role If You

  • Have strong technical expertise in macOS (with a working knowledge of Windows as a plus), identity and device management (e.g., Azure AD, Jamf, Intune), and enterprise collaboration tools like Google Workspace, Office 365, Slack, and Atlassian products.
  • Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, ensuring clarity and professionalism in both internal and external interactions.
  • Excel at troubleshooting and problem-solving within Mac and macOS environments, ensuring smooth operations for users.
  • Have experience orchestrating high-production all-hands events, managing the AV and technical aspects to ensure successful outcomes.
  • Are experienced with ServiceNow, leveraging it for IT service management (ITSM) to streamline processes, track incidents, and ensure efficient support ticket handling and resolution.
  • Are highly driven and motivated, with a proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
  • Exhibit precision and attention to detail in your work, consistently delivering high-quality results.
  • Possess a customer-first mindset and the ability to clearly articulate technical details to diverse audiences.
  • Are proactive in process improvement and vendor management, with added value in mentoring junior team members, automating workflows via scripting or low-code tools, and managing IT projects as a bonus.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. For additional information, please see OpenAI’s Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement. Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, 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 unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties,*[protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.]* To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link. OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology. Key skills/competency:
  • IT Support Specialist
  • Hardware Troubleshooting
  • Software Troubleshooting
  • Network Troubleshooting
  • macOS Expertise
  • Windows Proficiency
  • Vendor Management
  • Process Improvement
  • Customer Service
  • IT Service Management (ITSM)

Skills & topics

  • IT Support
  • Help Desk
  • Technical Support
  • macOS
  • Windows
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Networking
  • IT Services
  • Bellevue

How to get hired

  • Research OpenAI's culture: Study their mission, values, recent news, and employee testimonials on LinkedIn and Glassdoor.
  • Tailor your resume: Highlight your technical expertise in macOS, Windows, identity management, and collaboration tools. Quantify achievements where possible.
  • Craft a compelling cover letter: Emphasize your customer-first mindset, problem-solving skills, and proactive approach to process improvement.
  • Prepare for technical and behavioral questions: Be ready to discuss troubleshooting scenarios and how you handle collaboration and challenging situations.
  • Showcase your attention to detail: Demonstrate your precision in past roles, especially in managing inventories and supporting complex systems.

Technical preparation

Master macOS troubleshooting and common applications.,Gain proficiency with Windows operating systems.,Familiarize with identity/device management tools.,Practice using IT Service Management software.

Behavioral questions

Describe a complex technical issue you resolved.,How do you prioritize multiple urgent support requests?,How do you communicate technical issues to non-technical people?,Share an example of a process you improved.

Frequently asked questions

What are the primary responsibilities of an IT Support Specialist at OpenAI?
The IT Support Specialist at OpenAI acts as the first point of contact for troubleshooting hardware, software, and network issues. Key responsibilities include resolving support requests, coordinating with vendors for equipment needs, and participating in initiatives to improve IT processes and documentation.
What technical skills are most important for the IT Support Specialist role at OpenAI?
Strong technical expertise in macOS is essential, with a working knowledge of Windows being a plus. Experience with identity and device management tools (like Azure AD, Jamf, Intune) and enterprise collaboration suites (Google Workspace, Office 365, Slack, Atlassian) is highly valued. Proficiency in ServiceNow for IT Service Management is also beneficial.
What is the work arrangement for the IT Support Specialist position at OpenAI?
This IT Support Specialist role is based in the Bellevue office and requires a 5-day in-office work arrangement per week. OpenAI also offers relocation assistance to new employees.
How does OpenAI approach hiring for IT Support Specialist roles?
OpenAI looks for candidates who are customer-focused, technically proficient, and proactive. They value clear communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, robust IT systems expertise, and the ability to thrive in fast-paced, collaborative environments. Your resume and interview performance should highlight these qualities.
What kind of cross-functional collaboration is expected for an IT Support Specialist at OpenAI?
An IT Support Specialist at OpenAI collaborates closely with various teams, including Security, Facilities, and People Operations, to ensure a seamless employee experience. This involves clearly articulating technical issues, proposed solutions, and timelines to diverse audiences.
Are there opportunities for process improvement and automation in this IT Support Specialist role?
Yes, process improvement is a key aspect of this role. You'll collaborate to identify improvement opportunities, support workflow creation (like onboarding and device imaging), and contribute innovative ideas. Proactive process improvement and vendor management are highly valued, with scripting or low-code automation being a bonus.
What experience is helpful for managing IT equipment and vendors at OpenAI?
For the IT Support Specialist role, coordinating with vendors for procurement, repairs, and maintenance is a key duty. Managing hardware and software inventories to ensure systems are secure, up-to-date, and standardized is also crucial. This demonstrates strong organizational and vendor management skills.