Technical Business Development Manager – Infrastructure

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Industrial Compute team is responsible for securing and scaling the core resources that power OpenAI’s research and products. We partner across engineering, finance, legal, and operations to identify, negotiate, and execute strategic partnerships that expand OpenAI’s capacity for compute, power, and data center infrastructure. Our mandate spans energy procurement, real estate development, colocation, cloud service providers, silicon vendors, and data center equipment—ensuring OpenAI can grow with speed, resilience, and cost-efficiency.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Technical Business Development Manager focused on Infrastructure, you will source, structure, and negotiate high-value agreements across the critical pillars of OpenAI’s infrastructure stack. You will work directly with external partners and suppliers while collaborating internally with engineering, legal, finance, and operations to secure the resources needed to support state-of-the-art AI systems.

We’re looking for people who combine technical understanding, commercial acumen, and strategic execution. This role may focus on one or more of the following areas: energy and power, land and real estate, colocation, cloud service providers, silicon, and data center equipment.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:

- Identify, evaluate, and execute strategic partnerships across energy, land, colocation, cloud service providers, silicon, and data center equipment.

- Lead negotiations for complex commercial agreements, balancing cost, speed, resilience, and long-term scalability.

- Build and manage relationships with executives at utilities, real estate developers, colocation providers, cloud service providers, semiconductor companies, and equipment vendors.

- Develop market intelligence to inform OpenAI’s infrastructure roadmap and partnership strategy.

- Partner closely with engineering, finance, legal, and operations to structure and execute agreements that support OpenAI’s growth.

YOU MIGHT THRIVE IN THIS ROLE IF YOU:

- Bring strong commercial judgment and experience structuring and negotiating complex, high-value agreements.

- Can develop a technical understanding of infrastructure markets and translate it into effective partnership strategies.

- Build trusted relationships with senior external partners and collaborate effectively across technical and business teams.

- Operate effectively in fast-moving, ambiguous environments and balance immediate execution with long-term strategic goals.

- Communicate complex technical and commercial considerations clearly to a range of stakeholders.