OpenAI is a pioneering AI research and deployment company committed to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. Known for advancing the capabilities of AI systems, the company focuses on safely deploying these technologies worldwide through its innovative products.

As a Data Scientist at OpenAI, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of AI by contributing to groundbreaking research and development, particularly in the realms of human data and go-to-market strategies. OpenAI seeks individuals with robust data science skills, experience in highly ambiguous environments, and a deep understanding of Human-Machine Interaction challenges. This is your chance to be a core member of a dynamic team at the forefront of AI innovation.

If you're aiming to join OpenAI, this guide will help you navigate the rigorous interview process and prepare effectively. Let's get started!

Submitting Your Application

The first step is to submit a compelling application that reflects your technical skills and interest in joining OpenAI as a data scientist. Whether you were contacted by an OpenAI recruiter or have taken the initiative yourself, carefully review the job description and tailor your CV according to the prerequisites.

Tailoring your CV may include identifying specific keywords that the hiring manager might use to filter resumes and crafting a targeted cover letter. Furthermore, don’t forget to highlight relevant skills and mention your work experiences.

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

If your CV happens to be among the shortlisted few, a recruiter from the OpenAI Talent Acquisition Team will make contact and verify key details like your experiences and skill level. Behavioral questions may also be a part of the screening process.

In some cases, the OpenAI data scientist hiring manager stays present during the screening round to answer your queries about the role and the company itself. They may also indulge in surface-level technical and behavioral discussions. The whole recruiter call should take about 30 minutes.

Technical Virtual Interview

Successfully navigating the recruiter round will present you with an invitation for the technical screening round. Technical screening for the OpenAI data scientist role usually is conducted through virtual means, including video conferences and screen sharing. Questions in this 1-hour long interview stage may revolve around OpenAI’s data systems, machine learning theory, stats, and coding.

In the case of data scientist roles, take-home assignments regarding analytics, data experiments, and model evaluations are incorporated. Apart from these, your proficiency in hypothesis testing, probability distributions, and machine learning fundamentals may also be assessed during the round.

Depending on the seniority of the position, case studies and similar real-scenario problems may also be assigned.

Onsite Interview Rounds

Followed by a second recruiter call outlining the next stage, you’ll be invited to attend the onsite interview loop. Multiple interview rounds, varying with the role, will be conducted during your day at the OpenAI office. Your technical prowess, including programming and machine learning modeling capabilities, will be evaluated against the finalized candidates throughout these interviews.

If you were assigned take-home exercises, a presentation round may also await you during the onsite interview for the data scientist role at OpenAI.

Quick Tips for OpenAI Data Scientist Interviews

• Understand OpenAI's Products: Study OpenAI’s products and understand their broader applications in the real world. Being knowledgeable about how you would improve or augment these products can set you apart.
• Demonstrate Research Expertise: OpenAI values research-oriented skills. Be prepared to showcase your experience with experiments and how your insights have driven decisions.
• Align with OpenAI’s Mission: OpenAI emphasizes its mission of ensuring that general-purpose AI benefits all of humanity. Demonstrate your commitment to this mission through your answers to behavioral questions.

Typically, interviews at OpenAI vary by role and team, but commonly Data Scientist interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

• How would you measure the effectiveness of extra pay for delivery drivers during peak hours? You work at a food delivery company. How would you measure the effectiveness of giving extra pay to delivery drivers during peak hours to meet consumer demand?

• Create a function rain_days to calculate the probability of rain on the nth day after today. The probability that it will rain tomorrow depends on whether it rained today and yesterday. If it rained both days, there's a 20% chance it will rain tomorrow. If it rained one of the days, there's a 60% chance. If it rained neither day, there's a 20% chance. Given it rained today and yesterday, write a function to calculate the probability it will rain on the nth day after today.

• What are the assumptions of linear regression? List and explain the key assumptions that must be met for linear regression analysis to be valid.

What is the average salary for a Data Scientist at OpenAI?

Q: What is the interview process like at OpenAI? The interview process at OpenAI typically includes five rounds, covering various aspects such as ML coding, statistics, ML theory, and general questions on broader topics. Candidates may also be asked to complete a test task and discuss it during the interviews. The recruitment process can take around 3-4 months.

Q: What skills and experiences are required for a Data Scientist at OpenAI? Candidates should have strong data science skills, research experience, and a deep understanding of human-machine interaction challenges. Proficiency in SQL, Python, and conducting rigorous experiments is essential. Experience with NLP, large language models, and generative AI is highly advantageous.

Q: What will I be doing as a Data Scientist at OpenAI? As a Data Scientist at OpenAI, you will embed with various teams, uncovering ways to improve data quality and business growth. You'll design tests, define metrics, build dashboards, and develop and socialize reports for self-serve data question answering. You'll partner closely with other data scientists and cross-functional teams to drive strategic decisions.

Q: Does OpenAI support remote work? The role is primarily based at OpenAI's San Francisco HQ and follows a hybrid work model with three days in the office per week. Relocation assistance is offered to new employees.

Q: How can I prepare for an interview at OpenAI? To prepare for an interview at OpenAI, research the company and its products, practice common interview questions, and review your technical skills. Utilize Interview Query to practice and refine your coding and data science problem-solving abilities.

Embarking on a journey with OpenAI as a Data Scientist means more than just employment—it's a chance to shape the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity. The recruitment process might be challenging with multiple rounds and diverse questioning, but it's designed to ensure that only the most enthusiastic, skilled, and visionary individuals join the team.

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main OpenAI Interview Guide, where we have covered many interview questions that could be asked. We’ve also created interview guides for other roles, such as software engineer and data analyst, where you can learn more about OpenAI’s interview process for different positions.

At Interview Query, we empower you to unlock your interview prowess with a comprehensive toolkit, equipping you with the knowledge, confidence, and strategic guidance to conquer every OpenAI Data Scientist interview question and challenge.

You can check out all our company interview guides for better preparation, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Good luck with your interview!