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Backend Engineer - Core

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

As a Backend Engineer at xAI, you’ll be responsible for maintaining the performance, reliability, and scalability of our production services. Your work will empower product and research teams to launch innovative AI products and models, ensuring seamless operation and exceptional user experiences for a global audience.

What You’ll Do

  • Design, write, and maintain high-performance Rust microservices to support production systems.
  • Collaborate with product and research teams to deploy their products and models effectively.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve complex backend issues related to networking and system architecture.
  • Contribute to the evolution of xAI’s infrastructure to support cutting-edge AI advancements.

Who You Are

  • A skilled engineer with a strong foundation in computer science principles.
  • Proficient in Python, Rust, Kubernetes, and Scala for building robust systems.
  • Experienced in maintaining production services with a focus on performance and reliability.
  • Knowledgeable about networking concepts and their application in distributed systems.
  • A collaborative team player passionate about enabling AI innovation.
  • (Strong plus) Prior experience with microservices architecture or distributed systems.
  • Passionate about building exceptional AI products

Tech Stack

  • Rust (required)
  • Python (required)
  • Kubernetes (required)
  • Scala
  • Networking protocols and tools (e.g., TCP/IP, HTTP, load balancing)
  • Microservices architecture
  • Cloud platforms or on-prem environments

Interview Process

After submitting your application, the team reviews your CV and statement of exceptional work. If your application passes this stage, you will be invited to a 15 minute interview (“phone interview”) during which a member of our team will ask some basic questions. If you clear the initial phone interview, you will enter the main process, which consists of four technical interviews:

  1. Coding assessment in a language of your choice.
  2. Systems hands-on: Demonstrate practical skills in a live problem-solving session.
  3. Project deep-dive: Present your past exceptional work to a small audience.
  4. Meet and greet with the wider team.

Our goal is to finish the main process within one week. All interviews will be conducted via Google Meet.

Annual Salary Range

$180,000 - $440,000 USD

xAI is an equal opportunity employer.

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