Lead Network Engineer - Core

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

Data Center Fabrics are the foundational building blocks of the complex architecture that enables Grok to be trained and serve customer queries as they learn to understand the universe. To enable us to move faster we are looking for a Core Network Engineering Team Lead in our Palo Alto Office. You will develop and execute the team’s roadmap in collaboration with partner teams. You will guide your team and directly contribute to its network's development, while hiring and developing the world class talent xAI needs to achieve AGI.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the team’s roadmap for data center network fabrics in collaboration with partner teams.
• Lead and mentor a team of engineers, providing technical guidance and feedback to ensure high performance and growth.
• Directly contribute to the design, development, and optimization of network infrastructure to maximize availability and performance.
• Write Python scripts to automate processes, optimize compute resources, and reduce repetitive engineering tasks.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to align on roadmaps and resolve break/fix issues efficiently.
• Hire and develop top-tier talent to support xAI’s mission of achieving AGI.
• Ruthlessly prioritize team efforts to maximize weekly impact for customers.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years as a technical lead in AI networking, with at least 8 years of experience in hyperscale network environments.
• Proficiency in Python scripting to optimize compute resources and automate engineering tasks.
• 3+ years of experience with RoCEv2 and/or InfiniBand technologies.
• Proven ability to deliver highly available and performant data center network fabrics through individual and team contributions.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring engineers and providing constructive feedback.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive progress without being hindered by over-analysis.
• Strong collaboration skills to align multiple teams on cohesive roadmaps and solutions.
• A proactive, hands-on approach to tackling challenges, with no task considered too small.
• Experience in high-stakes environments requiring rapid prioritization and decision-making.
• Familiarity with recruiting and developing world-class engineering talent.

Annual Base Salary 

$180,000 - $440,000 USD

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.

xAI is an equal opportunity employer.

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