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Software Engineer, X Chat - Cryptography

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

About the Role

We’re seeking an exceptional Software Engineer to join a small, high-impact X Chat team dedicated to creating a transformative mobile chat experience. You’ll shape intuitive, secure mobile apps, blending technical expertise with a keen product sense to deliver user impact. An ideal candidate meets at least the following requirements:

  • Expert in Swift, Objective-C, Kotlin, or Java, with deep knowledge of mobile architectures.

  • Proficient in performance optimization for responsive, secure apps.

  • Experienced in designing and shipping intuitive mobile UIs with E2EE integration.

  • Skilled in concurrency (Coroutines, Flow) for real-time, encrypted messaging.

  • Built high-throughput API integrations (REST, GraphQL) with backend systems.

  • Capable of owning features end-to-end, from architecture to app store deployment, focusing on user value.

Additionally, experience in any of the following may set you apart:

  • Deep expertise in iOS/Android ecosystems and tools (Xcode, Android Studio, Gradle).

  • Proven track record of shipping standout mobile apps with secure features.

What You’ll Do

  • Craft delightful, secure mobile experiences for X Chat on iOS/Android.

  • Obsess over performance and UI, ensuring seamless, encrypted interactions.

  • Drive technical and product decisions, collaborating with designers and engineers.

  • Deploy innovative, secure features globally, maximizing user impact.

Who You Are

  • Technically Exceptional: Deep expertise in mobile development, particularly with Kotlin or Swift.

  • Efficient: Deliver results swiftly, prioritizing speed and quality.

  • Hardworking: Committed to building secure, user-focused apps.

  • High Agency: Take initiative and drive feature development.

  • Product-Minded: Empathize with users to create delightful, secure experiences.

Tech Stack

  • Swift, Objective-C, Kotlin, Java

  • REST, GraphQL

  • Xcode, Android Studio, Gradle

Interview Process

After submitting your application, the team reviews your CV and statement of exceptional work. If your application passes, you’ll be invited to a 15-30 minute phone interview with technical questions. If cleared, you’ll proceed to:

  1. Deep dive coding challenge.

  2. Meet and greet with the wider team.

Our goal is to complete the process within one week. All interviews will be conducted in person when applicable.

Location

The role is based in Palo Alto. Candidates are expected to be located near the Bay Area or open to relocation.

Benefits

Base salary is just one part of our total rewards package at X, which also includes equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and various other discounts and perks.

Annual Salary Range

$180,000 - $440,000 USD

xAI is an equal opportunity employer.

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