Principal Recruiter, Strategic AI Talent

We are looking for a highly strategic recruiter to work closely with the Head of Research Recruiting on a small set of unusually important, high-touch searches and candidate relationships. This role will focus on exceptional talent who does not move through a standard recruiting process: highly visible researchers, technical leaders, operators, and other special-interest candidates where timing, discretion, market intelligence, and tailored engagement matter as much as process execution. This is not a conventional req-based recruiting role. You will help identify where the market is moving, develop intelligence on top talent and competitor activity, translate that intelligence into action, and orchestrate bespoke recruiting strategies for candidates who require a more nuanced path into OpenAI.

Responsibilities

Partner directly with the Head of Research Recruiting and research leadership team to define priority talent targets and shape bespoke engagement strategies; Build and maintain deep market intelligence across frontier AI, research, engineering, and adjacent talent ecosystems, including competitor movement, candidate motivations, and relationship context; Proactively identify, map, and cultivate exceptional high-profile talent before there is a formal or standard hiring process attached; Translate weak signals and network intelligence into concrete recruiting actions, outreach plans, and leadership recommendations; Manage highly tailored candidate journeys that may involve confidential outreach, senior stakeholder alignment, custom evaluation paths, and complex closing strategy; Coordinate with executive search firms, sourcers, recruiting coordinators, and internal networks to move priority searches forward with speed and discretion; Serve as a trusted advisor on candidate positioning, timing, risk, compensation, and closing strategy for especially sensitive or high-impact hires.

Requirements

Significant experience recruiting for highly technical, senior, executive, or otherwise specialized talent; Strong judgment and discretion in handling sensitive candidate conversations and confidential searches; A real instinct for talent intelligence: you know how to gather market context, read between the lines, and turn incomplete information into useful action; Track record of building relationships with hard-to-reach candidates who are not actively looking or who require a highly personalized process; Experience partnering closely with senior leaders and influencing recruiting strategy in ambiguous, fast-moving environments; Comfort operating outside the standard process when needed, while still bringing structure, follow-through, and sound judgment; Deep interest in AI research, technical talent markets, and the broader ecosystem of labs, companies, and people shaping the frontier.

Benefits

Relocation assistance; Height-adjustable desks; Conference rooms; Phone booths; Well-stocked kitchens full of snacks and drinks; Three in-house prepared meals daily; Outdoor space for working and socializing; Wellness rooms; Private bike storage