Back to jobs
New

Governance, Risk, and Compliance Lead

San Francisco & Palo Alto, CA

About xAI

xAI’s mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge.

Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity.

We operate with a flat organizational structure. All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company’s mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important.

All engineers and researchers are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.

About the Role

xAI is seeking an experienced and strategic Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Lead to design, implement, and oversee our GRC framework. This critical role will ensure that xAI operates within regulatory, ethical, and operational boundaries while fostering a culture of integrity and resilience. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to safeguard our mission-driven work in AI development and deployment.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Develop and maintain a robust governance framework to support xAI’s strategic objectives and ensure alignment with industry best practices.
  • Establish policies, procedures, and controls to guide ethical AI development, data usage, and corporate decision-making.
  • Partner with leadership to integrate governance principles into product development and operational processes.
  • Identify, assess, and prioritize risks related to AI operations, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property.
  • Design and implement risk mitigation strategies, including monitoring systems and contingency plans.
  • Conduct regular risk assessments and scenario analyses to proactively address emerging threats in the AI landscape.
  • Ensure adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and standards (e.g., data privacy laws like GDPR/CCPA, AI ethics guidelines, and industry-specific requirements).
  • Monitor regulatory developments and advise leadership on their impact on xAI’s operations and product roadmap.
  • Oversee audits, certifications, and third-party assessments to maintain compliance and operational credibility.
  • Develop and deliver GRC training programs for employees to promote a culture of accountability and awareness.
  • Act as a subject matter expert, providing guidance to teams on risk and compliance matters.
  • Create and present regular reports on GRC performance, risks, and compliance status to senior leadership and stakeholders.
  • Leverage data and analytics to measure the effectiveness of GRC initiatives and drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business Administration, Information Security, or a related field (Master’s degree or relevant certifications like CISA, CRISC, or CGEIT preferred).
  • 7+ years of experience in governance, risk management, or compliance.
  • Proven expertise in regulatory frameworks, data privacy, and cybersecurity, preferably in a technology or AI-driven environment.
  • Strong understanding of AI ethics, emerging technologies, and their associated risks.
  • Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance innovation and oversight.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing cross-functional teams.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to evolving priorities.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience in the tech or AI industry, particularly with startups or innovative organizations.
  • Familiarity with ISO 27001, NIST, SOC 2, or similar compliance frameworks.
  • Background in managing third-party risk or vendor compliance programs.

xAI is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, religion, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, medical conditions, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. 

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act. 

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:

xAI reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: 

  • Access to information technology systems and confidential information, including proprietary and trade secret information, and/or user data;
  • Interacting with internal and/or external clients and colleagues; and
  • Exercising sound judgment.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Notice

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

If you are currently employed in the field, please tell us the name of your employer.

If you are currently employed in the field, please tell us your role including your seniority level (e.g. Software Engineer II).

If you have a public LinkedIn profile, please provide its URL.

If you have a public X profile, please provide its URL.

Tell us about a piece of work that you are most proud about.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in xAI’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.