SMS Prototype Handling Specialist

About the Team Security is at the foundation of OpenAI’s mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. Our Security team protects OpenAI’s technology, people, and products. We are technical in what we build but operational in how we do our work, and we are committed to supporting all products and research at OpenAI. As part of this, our Secure Manufacturing & Stealth (SMS) team is a dedicated function that partners closely with supply chain and operations teams to protect OpenAI’s most sensitive projects. We design and enforce safeguards that ensure our innovations remain confidential until launch, while enabling our engineers and partners to move quickly and effectively. Our team’s tenets include: prioritizing for impact, preparing for future transformative technologies, building trust with cross-functional partners, and fostering a robust culture of security and confidentiality. About the Role We are seeking a Senior SMS Prototype Handling Specialist to lead OpenAI’s efforts around handling sensitive product prototypes and secure logistics. You will design and drive programs that safeguard our most advanced projects by making sure all prototypes are constantly accounted for and are securely transported worldwide. This role reports to the Senior Secure Manufacturing and Stealth Specialist and operates as a staff-level individual contributor, owning the design, execution, and continuous improvement of prototype handling operations. While this role does not manage people, it exercises significant cross-functional influence, sets operational standards, and is trusted to independently resolve complex, high-risk situations involving OpenAI’s most sensitive hardware. You will be the single accountable owner for the integrity of OpenAI’s prototype inventory and logistics systems, ensuring that all prototypes are continuously accounted for across locations, teams, and borders. This role requires deep judgment, high trust, and the ability to operate effectively amid ambiguity, urgency, and evolving security requirements. 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. This position requires travel up to ~25% to international vendor and partner locations. In this role, you will: - Maintain continuous, auditable accountability for all assigned OpenAI hardware prototypes. - Operate and administer a secure prototype library, including inventory systems, physical storage, and check-in / check-out workflows. - Execute access control processes to ensure prototypes are issued only to approved OpenAI personnel with appropriate authorization. - Coordinate secure domestic and international logistics for prototypes, including shipment planning, hand-carry transport, customs coordination, and chain-of-custody documentation. - Support engineering teams through prototype build, testing, iteration, and return cycles. - Perform routine and ad-hoc inventory audits, reconciliations, and discrepancy investigations. - Maintain accurate records, logs, and reporting on prototype status, location, and access history. - Identify operational risks, gaps, or anomalies and escalate clearly and promptly to the Senior Secure Manufacturing and Stealth Specialist. - Support incident response activities related to lost, damaged, or compromised devices. - Execute established security procedures consistently while contributing practical feedback to improve operational processes. You might thrive in this role if you: - Have 5–8 years of experience in secure logistics, hardware operations, prototype management, physical asset control, or supply chain operations. - Have hands-on experience managing sensitive or high-value hardware across multiple teams or locations. - Are comfortable being personally accountable for inventory accuracy and chain-of-custody integrity. - Demonstrate sound judgment, discretion, and reliability when handling