OpenRouter

Unified API for LLMs
Last updated:
February 4, 2026
Company details
HQ
HEADCOUNT
1-24
ORG TYPE
Startup
SECTOR
Technology & Digital
About the company
OpenRouter is an AI infrastructure company that routes requests across many large language models through one API, aiming to reduce vendor lock-in and handle uptime and pricing trade-offs for developers. The company positions OpenRouter as an “AI gateway” and marketplace that aggregates models and providers behind a unified interface. Public materials highlight scale signals like millions of users, hundreds of models, and dozens of providers. Coverage around funding frames OpenRouter as an enterprise-ready control plane for multi-model inference.
Locations and presence
OpenRouter presents as remote-first in the US, and job listings commonly show “Remote (US).” Startup directories also list San Francisco, United States, while press coverage has described a small remote team.
Palpable Score
59.6
/ 100
OpenRouter offers a few realistic early-career-adjacent entry points, but most visible hiring skews senior and “first hire” function-building. Candidates get strong benefits signals for a small team, yet the public record on junior progression, mentoring structure, and pay ranges is thin.
Pillar 1: Early-career access

Score

11.2
/ 20
  • The company lists roles that could fit early-career candidates who already have some experience, such as an AI & Provider Operations Engineer described as 2–3 years in startup, solutions engineering, or product ops.
  • OpenRouter’s public openings cluster around senior or function-leading roles (for example, “Senior Full-Stack Engineer” and “first” security or customer success leadership roles), which reduces true 0–3 year access.
  • The company does not show a visible internship, apprenticeship, or graduate hiring lane on the careers page, which caps recurring entry-level throughput.

Pillar 2: Hiring fairness and transparency

Score

13.6
/ 20
  • The company runs openings through a consistent ATS flow (Ashby) and keeps roles centralized from the OpenRouter careers page, which usually reduces “where do I apply” confusion.
  • OpenRouter publishes clear benefits language and a remote-first policy on the careers page, but most roles do not show salary bands up front, limiting transparency for applicants.
  • The company shares detailed scope in at least one publicly visible job description (for example, the provider operations role breaks down responsibilities and required experience), which helps candidates self-select without guesswork.

Pillar 3: Learning and support

Score

12.4
/ 20
  • The company describes the provider operations role as “ideal” for someone wanting to build technical depth and work directly with model labs and providers, which is a credible learning-by-doing signal.
  • OpenRouter emphasizes a small team with direct product impact, but the company does not publish specifics on onboarding, manager 1:1s, pairing, or review cadence for new joiners.
  • The company references growth into specialized or senior roles “as we scale” in job materials, yet there is little public detail on enablement, training budgets, or structured coaching for early-career hires.

Pillar 4: Pay fairness and stability

Score

13.1
/ 20
  • The company lists fully covered health, dental, and vision plans for employees and dependents, plus a WFH stipend and quarterly offsites, which is unusually strong for a very small startup.
  • OpenRouter states “top-of-market salary and equity packages,” but salary ranges are not consistently published role-by-role, so candidates cannot easily benchmark fairness pre-interview.
  • The company’s job materials describe full-time roles with benefits and equity rather than repeated short contracts, supporting stability for early-career candidates who land a role.

Pillar 5: Early-career outcomes

Score

9.3
/ 20
  • The company has high-profile growth signals in public coverage and company materials, but those sources do not provide early-career retention, promotion timelines, or internal mobility metrics.
  • OpenRouter shows ongoing hiring across multiple functions over time, but the public record does not show what happens to junior-leaning hires after 12–24 months.
  • The company has limited independent early-career outcome data on major review platforms that is clearly attributable to OpenRouter, so outcomes scoring is capped by missing evidence.

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