Software Engineer, xAI

Search & Retrieval

$180-440k

Python
Rust
Spark
Mid and Senior level
San Francisco Bay Area
xAI

Building artificial intelligence

Open for applications

xAI

Building artificial intelligence

1001+ employees

B2CB2BArtificial IntelligenceDeep TechMachine Learning

Open for applications

$180-440k

Python
Rust
Spark
Mid and Senior level
San Francisco Bay Area

1001+ employees

B2CB2BArtificial IntelligenceDeep TechMachine Learning

Company mission

To build AI systems that can help humanity understand the world better.

Role

Who you are

  • Extensive experience building and maintaining search indexing and retrieval systems, preferably at scale
  • Strong background in algorithms and data structures relevant to search, such as inverted indices, vector space models, and ranking algorithms
  • Familiarity with distributed systems and infrastructure for scalable search deployments
  • Ability to work independently and drive projects forward in a fast-paced environment

What the job involves

  • The Search & Retrieval team is responsible for providing our AI systems and end users with instantaneous access to the most relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information
  • In this role, you will be at the forefront of our search efforts, building systems from scratch and driving progress that will directly impact the performance and capabilities of our AI systems
  • This team works closely with the data team to index internet-scale datasets, and with product teams to maximize the usefulness of our models for end users and API customers
  • Develop and optimize search indexing and retrieval algorithms and methodologies to enable low latency information access for our AI models
  • Advance the state of the art for retrieval augmented generation through research, exploration, and real-world iteration
  • Work closely with the web crawling and data teams to develop indexing pipelines and guide data acquisition strategies
  • Deploy search systems into production to support our AI research and product development efforts
  • Collaborate with researchers, engineers, and product teams to integrate search capabilities into our AI models and products
  • Tech Stack: Python, JAX, Rust, Spark

Application 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. We don’t rely on recruiters for assessments. Every application is reviewed by a member of our technical team. All interviews will be conducted via Google Meet

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Company

Company benefits

  • Health and wellness: Comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, vision, and disability coverage
  • Life and family: Life and AD&D insurance and fertility benefits to ensure our team’s well-being and peace of mind
  • Flexible vacation: We work hard but avoid burn out. Take time off when you need it
  • Visa sponsorship: We support international talent with visa sponsorship to join our team
  • 401(k) plan: Retirement savings plan to secure your financial future

Funding (last 2 of 3 rounds)

Dec 2024

$6bn

SERIES C

May 2024

$6bn

SERIES B

Total funding: $12.1bn

Our take

xAI is Elon Musk's venture into the world of artificial intelligence, and like all things Musk, it's going big. Its setting out to build AI that helps humanity understand the universe and its starting with Grok, its conversational AI chatbot already integrated into X (formerly Twitter). With access to real-time data and a powerful ecosystem of Musk-led companies, xAI is certainly pushing towards artificial general intelligence at serious scale.

Like all bold ventures, xAI has faced its share of controversy, from questions about regulation to the overlap across Musk's businesses. But fans are still seeing the bigger picture: an interconnected tech ecosystem where AI, social media, and space exploration feed into one another.

Recently, the company made headlines with its massive "Colossus" supercomputer project, powered by tens of thousands of Nvidia GPUs. While the data center's temporary power setup has faced environmental scrutiny, the scale of ambition is certainly undeniable. From launching tap-to-pay features on X to building one of the most powerful AI training systems on Earth, xAI is moving fast.

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Steph

Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle