Applied AI Engineer, xAI

• All engineers and researchers are expected to have strong communication skills
• They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates
• A passion for solving complex, real-world problems—particularly those tied to government missions or enterprise objectives—delivering measurable impact through AI
• Proven ability to ship high-quality, secure code and complete projects in challenging, regulated, or ambiguous environments
• Adaptability to shifting priorities and requirements in a fast-paced, mission-driven startup setting
• Exceptional communication skills to interface with customers—including government stakeholders—clarifying technical requirements and driving projects to completion
• Expertise in designing, implementing, and maintaining robust, scalable, and secure AI-driven solutions that meet stringent compliance and operational standards
• Government Partnership Experience: Demonstrated success working with government agencies, DoD, or federal contractors on AI, software, or data projects
• Clearance Preferred: Active U.S. security clearance (e.g., Secret, Top Secret) or eligibility to obtain one is highly desirable
• 6+ years of software engineering experience, ideally in environments requiring high reliability or security
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with experience documenting technical solutions for diverse stakeholders
• Ability to translate business, product, or mission needs into engineering solutions, particularly for government or enterprise clients
• Proven experience implementing AI or machine learning products with APIs, back-end systems, and front-end interfaces
• Proficiency in Python and/or TypeScript
• Strong understanding of the HTTP protocol and secure API design
• Robust engineering background, preferably in fields such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Software Engineering, Physics, or Data Science

Desirable

• Applied AI Engineers work directly with our end customers, including federal government and enterprise partners, to own strategy and execution of mission-critical AI solutions
• This role mirrors the responsibilities of a hands-on AI startup CTO: you’ll collaborate in a small, agile team to deliver high-stakes projects, often in secure or regulated environments
• Drive the development and enhancement of the core product and underlying model, while collaborating cross-functionally to deliver end-to-end AI solutions
• Identifying pain points, scoping product specifications, and designing and building LLM-powered software for government or enterprise use cases
• Benchmarking models and developing evaluation frameworks to assess performance and address weaknesses, ensuring compliance with customer standards
• Enhancing model performance through system prompt tuning or fine-tuning, with an eye toward secure and scalable deployment
• Analyzing request logs, prompt data, or system outputs to ensure reliability and auditability
• Building internal tooling to streamline workflows and automate repetitive tasks in secure environments
• Refining xAI SDKs or developer documentation based on customer feedback, with an emphasis on usability for government or enterprise developers

• 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 (“technical phone interview”) during which a member of our team will ask technical questions about your background or specialization
• If you clear the initial phone interview, you will enter the main process, which consists of four technical interviews:
• Virtual: Coding assessment in a language of your choice
• In-person: Coding assessment in a language of your choice
• In-person: Systems hands-on: Demonstrate practical skills in a live problem-solving session
• 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 or in-person

• 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

Total funding: $12.1bn

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.