OpenAI

Head of Systems Operations

OpenAI$150K — $200K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Experience leading systems engineering or IT operations at scale.
  • Strong people leadership abilities, proven in team building and performance management.
  • Proven track record in managing complex operational environments with measurable outcomes.
  • Technical expertise in identity platforms, endpoint management, SaaS, and automation.
  • Ability to create processes balancing speed, control, and quality results.
  • Familiarity with modern AI tools and their practical application in workflows.
  • Strong judgment and clear communication skills in dynamic environments.
  • Hands-on approach with a high standard for execution.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and develop a high-performing System Operations team with clear accountability.
  • Set priorities across a diverse portfolio of operational and technical initiatives.
  • Enhance team effectiveness through operational rhythms, metrics, and planning.
  • Drive automation and AI-enabled workflows to improve efficiency and scalability.
  • Oversee operations of core internal technology domains including identity systems and endpoint management.
  • Ensure compliance with security, audit, and control requirements through disciplined processes.
  • Partner cross-functionally to create scalable solutions for business growth and changes.
  • Continuously enhance the speed, quality, and reliability of technology services.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead a high-impact technical operations team.
  • Engagement with cutting-edge AI technologies in operations.
  • A collaborative environment working cross-functionally across various technology domains.
  • Focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
  • Ownership of critical internal systems and processes.
Full Job Description
About the Role

We are hiring a Head of System Operations to lead a high-impact technical operations organization. This leader will be responsible for running the SysOps team, creating clarity across a broad remit, improving operational performance, architecture and building the future of how internal systems are delivered in the age of AI.

This role requires a strong operator who can organize complex work, set priorities, drive accountability, and continuously improve how the team functions. You will serve as the connective tissue across multiple technology domains while ensuring the team is focused on the highest-impact work.

You should be equally comfortable leading people, improving operational processes, and engaging deeply with technical systems. The role is ideal for someone who combines technical breadth with strong execution and a builder mindset.

You'll be responsible for:
  • Leading and developing a high-performing System Operations team with clear ownership and accountability.
  • Setting priorities across a broad portfolio of operational and technical work to ensure focus.
  • Driving team effectiveness through strong operational rhythms, metrics, capacity planning, and execution discipline.
  • Driving automation, self-service, and AI-enabled workflows that reduce manual work, eliminate delays, improve employee experience, and scale operations across identity, endpoint, SaaS, and internal systems.
  • Overseeing the operation of core internal technology domains including identity systems, endpoint management, enterprise applications, and systems automation, with ownership of Entra ID architecture, lifecycle automation, access governance, and privileged access.
  • Ensuring internal technology operations meet security, audit, and control requirements through reliable processes and disciplined execution, supported by clear standards, version-controlled configuration, and measurable reliability.
  • Partnering cross-functionally to deliver scalable solutions for company growth, onboarding, integrations, and changing business needs.
  • Continuously improving the speed, quality, and reliability of technology services, while driving Terraform standards, reducing configuration drift, and raising the engineering bar.


We're looking for someone with:
  • Experience leading systems engineering, enterprise technology, IT operations, or platform operations at scale.
  • Strong people leadership skills with a track record of building effective teams and raising performance standards.
  • Proven ability to run complex operational environments with clear prioritization and measurable results.
  • Technical depth across several areas such as identity platforms, endpoint management, SaaS administration, automation, infrastructure, or enterprise tooling.
  • Experience building durable processes that balances speed control, and high-quality user outcomes.
  • Familiarity with modern AI tools and practical ways to apply them to operations and internal workflows.
  • Strong judgment, clear communications, and comfort operating in fast-moving environments.
  • A hands-on, ownership-oriented mindset with high standards for execution.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research laboratory consisting of the for-profit corporation OpenAI LP and its parent company, the non-profit OpenAI Inc. The company was founded in 2015 by a group of technology leaders, including Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and John Schulman. OpenAI's mission is to develop and promote friendly AI for the betterment of humanity. The company has developed a number of cutting-edge AI technologies, including GPT-3, a language processing system that can generate human-like text. OpenAI has received funding from a number of high-profile investors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and venture capitalist Peter Thiel.
Learn more about OpenAI
Size
100 employees
Industry
Founded
2015

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