OpenAI
Large (~3,500)
Vast AI
Small (~30)
Best For
OpenAI
Best for: Engineers who want to build frontier AI models at the company defining the industry, with elite compensation
Vast AI
Best for: Scrappy generalists who want a front-row seat to the AI compute revolution
Ratings
OpenAIVast AI
4.5
5.0
Overall
3.6
3.8
Work-Life Balance
4.6
5.0
Culture & Values
4.5
5.0
Comp & Benefits
4.3
5.0
Senior Mgmt
4.3
5.0
Career Opps
👍 90% Recommend
👤 95% CEO Approval (Sam Altman)
👍 100% Recommend
👤 100% CEO Approval (Jake Cannell)
Culture Values
OpenAI only
🌱 Learning & Growth🎯 Direct Product Impact
Vast AI only
🤝 Flat Hierarchy🧩 Wears Many Hats
Shared
⚙️ Engineering-Driven🚀 Ship Fast & Iterate💎 Strong Comp & Equity
Pros & Cons
OpenAI
- Cutting-edge frontier AI research with world-class colleagues
- Elite compensation — top-tier TC and equity packages
- High-intensity environment — long hours and intense pace are the norm
- Internal politics and rapid org changes as the company scales
Vast AI
- Front-row seat to the AI compute revolution — demand for GPU cloud is surging
- Strong compensation and generous equity stakes for a bootstrapped startup
- Processes are still being defined — expect ad hoc workflows
- Intense workload — the team explicitly values high output
Bottom Line
OpenAI
High-intensity, mission-driven culture with world-class colleagues and top-tier comp — but expect long hours, rapid org changes, and internal politics as the company scales.
Vast AI
Choose Vast AI if you want perfect Glassdoor scores and generous equity at a tiny GPU marketplace — but expect startup chaos.
Open Roles
OpenAI — 655 jobs
💻 Engineering
317
💼 Sales / GTM
57
📋 Product
30
📊 Data
28
🧠 ML / AI
28
📣 Marketing
24
⚙️ Operations
17
⚖️ Legal
13
🎨 Design
10
👤 HR / People
9
💰 Finance
7
🎧 Support
4
Vast AI — 9 jobs
💻 Engineering
6
🧠 ML / AI
2
Summary
OpenAI scores 4.5/5.0 on Glassdoor with a 3.6 work-life balance rating. Vast AI scores 5.0/5.0 overall with a 3.8 WLB. That’s a 0.5-point gap on overall satisfaction.
Both companies share these culture values: Engineering-Driven, Ship Fast & Iterate, Strong Comp & Equity. OpenAI also emphasizes Learning & Growth, Direct Product Impact. Vast AI also emphasizes Flat Hierarchy, Wears Many Hats.
On the hiring front, OpenAI has 655 open roles and Vast AI has 9 open roles.