Technical Program Manager, Infrastructure Strategy

The Technical Program Manager, Infrastructure Strategy at OpenAI focuses on developing the supercomputer location strategy, managing site selection, and ensuring that project delivery aligns with technical and capacity requirements. This includes engaging with various stakeholders, from land and power to engineering teams, to make informed strategic decisions. The role also involves interfacing with site vendors and external partners to ensure infrastructure readiness and mitigate risks.

Candidates for the Technical Program Manager, Infrastructure Strategy role at OpenAI should ideally have at least 5 years of experience in program management, specifically related to major capital projects or infrastructure deployment. A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, or a related field is required. Experience in managing cross-functional teams and dealing with external vendors is highly beneficial, along with a solid understanding of sustainability and energy fundamentals.

Collaboration is key for the Technical Program Manager, Infrastructure Strategy at OpenAI. This role requires partnering with a variety of internal stakeholders, including demand and capacity management, engineering teams, and executive leadership. By working closely with these groups, the manager ensures that technical demands are met and that strategic infrastructure decisions are informed and beneficial across all aspects of the project.

Success as a Technical Program Manager, Infrastructure Strategy at OpenAI hinges on several skills, including strong project management capabilities, excellent communication skills for executive-level presentations, and the ability to manage complex dependencies. Candidates should also possess a knack for strategic thinking, problem-solving, and comfort with making critical business decisions that drive project success.

The Technical Program Manager, Infrastructure Strategy has a significant impact on OpenAI's infrastructure projects by shaping the strategy for supercomputer site selection and development. This role contributes to the broader vision of modernizing AI infrastructure, which is crucial for maintaining OpenAI's position at the forefront of the AI industry. The manager’s efforts directly influence the efficiency, sustainability, and scalability of infrastructure systems that support groundbreaking AI technology.

When addressing this question, share specific examples of major projects you've managed. Highlight your role in coordinating diverse teams, overcoming challenges, and how you ensured projects were delivered on time and within budget.

In your response, emphasize the importance of communication and building relationships. Provide examples of how you maintained alignment among stakeholders with differing priorities and ensured everyone was informed and on the same page throughout the project lifecycle.

Discuss your proactive approach to identifying potential risks before they become issues. Mention tools or frameworks you employ, such as risk assessments and contingency planning, and provide an example where your foresight helped mitigate a significant risk.

Explain your methods for prioritization, such as using project management software, breaking projects into smaller milestones, and regularly reviewing progress with your team. Discuss how this approach has led to successful project completion.

Use this opportunity to showcase your negotiation skills. Describe the context, your objectives, the strategy you used, and the outcome. Highlight how you balanced the interests of both parties.

Share your systematic approach to site selection, explaining factors you consider such as land availability, infrastructure capacity, and community impact. Mention how you collaborate with various teams to gather this information.

Discuss your understanding of sustainability principles related to infrastructure. Provide examples of how you've integrated these elements into project plans and how you keep updated on best practices.

Illustrate how you leverage data analytics to inform your decisions, such as using metrics to prioritize site viability or project performance. Share specifics, including tools or techniques that you find effective.

Detail the context, content, and the impact of one of your presentations. Highlight how you tailored your messaging for an executive audience and the feedback or results that followed the presentation.

Articulate your insights into current challenges, such as the pace of technological change, global supply chain issues, or environmental concerns. Discuss how you would address these challenges in the framework of your role.