Backend Engineer

As a Backend Engineer at xAI, you will be instrumental in developing and maintaining the production systems that power our API. This role offers the opportunity to work within a highly motivated team dedicated to engineering excellence, contributing directly to our mission of creating AI systems that accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge.

Your primary responsibilities will include designing, implementing, and maintaining reliable and horizontally scalable distributed systems. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the performance, reliability, and scalability of our backend infrastructure, which is predominantly written in Rust. Addressing user pain points and striving for perfection in system design will be key aspects of your day-to-day work.

We are seeking candidates with expert knowledge of either Rust or C++, and experience in building scalable distributed systems. Familiarity with service observability and reliability best practices, as well as proficiency in operating databases such as PostgreSQL, Clickhouse, and MongoDB, are essential. Additional skills in Python, Docker, Kubernetes, TypeScript, gRPC, and experience with LLM APIs or delivering user-facing software at scale will be advantageous.

This position is based in London, UK, with a preference for in-office work five days a week, though work-from-home days are allowed when necessary. Candidates should be willing to attend late meetings at least once a week to coordinate with our team in Palo Alto. The annual salary range for this role is $180,000 to $440,000 USD, complemented by equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a pension plan, and various other benefits and perks.

At xAI, we foster a flat organizational structure where all employees are expected to be hands-on and contribute directly to the company's mission. Leadership is awarded to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. We value strong communication skills, a solid work ethic, and the ability to prioritize effectively. Joining our team offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI technologies in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment.