Technical Sourcer, Research
OpenAI · Utica-Rome Area
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- On site
- Full-time
- $150,000 / year
- Utica-Rome Area
Job highlights
- Source world-class AI researchers and scientists.
- Build and maintain relationships with specialized talent.
- Develop creative strategies for talent discovery.
- Partner with hiring managers on sourcing strategies.
- Drive data-driven candidate tracking and metrics.
About the role
About The Team
OpenAI’s mission is to build safe artificial general intelligence (AGI) that benefits all of humanity. Achieving this requires bringing the world’s most exceptional talent under one roof to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Our Research Recruiting team plays a critical role in this effort. We are an embedded part of the research organization—working side by side with our research staff to deeply understand evolving priorities, build trust, and strategically shape the future of OpenAI’s talent.
About The Role
You’ll focus on identifying and engaging world‑class AI researchers and scientists who are advancing the frontier of machine learning and artificial intelligence. In this role, you will drive top‑of‑funnel sourcing efforts, build thoughtful outreach strategies, and cultivate long‑term relationships with highly specialized talent across academia and industry to support our Research teams’ hiring ambitions. You’ll work across a range of deeply technical and research‑oriented roles, mapping emerging fields, identifying leading contributors, and proactively engaging experts in their respective domains. You’ll partner closely with recruiters, hiring managers, and research leaders to surface exceptional candidates, generate strong pipelines for niche searches, and continuously refine sourcing strategies to help our research teams grow and scale.
Your Responsibilities
- Build highly targeted searches that deliver candidate profiles with precision.
- Craft thoughtful approaches to candidate outreach that will engage even the most passive talent and cultivate relationships with high priority targets over the long-term.
- Develop and utilize creative strategies to discover non-traditional, research-adjacent, and/or up and coming talent.
- Partner closely with hiring managers across OpenAI to develop customized sourcing strategies and advise them on the market.
- Take a highly organized and data driven approach to candidate tracking and funnel metrics.
- Represent OpenAI and engage with candidates at conferences and events.
We’re Seeking
- Significant experience sourcing specialized Engineering and/or AI talent across a range of highly technical domains.
- Deep interest in AI research and a desire to engage directly with global research communities.
- Demonstrable success in sourcing and hiring top technical talent at a premier tech company and/or high-growth startup.
- Ability to drive multiple complex searches in parallel while maintaining a high quality bar and exceptional stakeholder + candidate experience.
- A passion for the research and mapping components of sourcing; it’s a long game.
Key skills/competency
- Technical Sourcing
- AI Research
- Machine Learning
- Talent Acquisition
- Candidate Engagement
- Pipeline Building
- Market Mapping
- Stakeholder Management
- Recruiting Strategy
- Talent Sourcing
Skills & topics
- Technical Sourcer
- AI
- Machine Learning
- Research
- Recruiting
- Talent Acquisition
- Sourcing
- AI Research
- Computer Science
- Technology
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight AI/Engineering sourcing experience.
- Craft a compelling cover letter: Emphasize your interest in AI research.
- Showcase your sourcing skills: Detail successful niche searches and candidate engagement.
- Prepare for technical discussions: Be ready to discuss AI/ML domains and communities.
- Understand OpenAI's mission: Align your passion with their AGI goals.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus of the Technical Sourcer role at OpenAI?
- The Technical Sourcer role at OpenAI focuses on identifying and engaging top-tier AI researchers and scientists to support the company's mission of building safe artificial general intelligence (AGI).
- What kind of talent will I be sourcing for as a Technical Sourcer at OpenAI?
- You will be sourcing for world-class AI researchers and scientists who are advancing the frontier of machine learning and artificial intelligence, often for deeply technical and research-oriented roles.
- What experience is required for the Technical Sourcer, Research position at OpenAI?
- Significant experience sourcing specialized Engineering and/or AI talent, a deep interest in AI research, and demonstrable success in hiring top technical talent at a premier tech company or high-growth startup are required.
- How does OpenAI approach sourcing for niche technical roles?
- OpenAI uses creative strategies to discover non-traditional talent, maps emerging fields, identifies leading contributors, and engages experts proactively to build strong pipelines for niche searches.
- What is the work arrangement for this Technical Sourcer role?
- This role can be based in San Francisco, New York, or Seattle offices, or remotely in the US. For in-office roles, a hybrid schedule is followed (three days in office, two days remote).
- What does OpenAI value in candidates for their Research Recruiting team?
- OpenAI values candidates with a passion for the research and mapping components of sourcing, a desire to engage with global research communities, and the ability to drive multiple complex searches with high quality and excellent candidate experience.
- How does the Technical Sourcer contribute to OpenAI's mission?
- By strategically identifying and engaging exceptional talent, the Technical Sourcer directly contributes to building the team necessary to achieve OpenAI's mission of developing safe artificial general intelligence (AGI).