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

About the team

xAI is committed to building artificial intelligence that uncovers the truth about the Universe. We believe computational power is the cornerstone of achieving this vision. Our goal is to harness a significant portion of energy on the Kardashev Scale (Type I) to drive efficient computing, advancing scientific discovery, improving quality of life, and supporting humanity’s journey toward becoming a multi-planetary civilization (Type II).

Current AI systems are approximately one million times less efficient than their theoretical limit. Our team’s mission is to pioneer next-generation AI systems that achieve breakthrough efficiency and scalability across new hardware, compilers, and models.

About the role

As part of xAI and in collaboration with our partners, you will co-design next-generation AI systems, spanning from silicon to software compilers to models. This complex role involves multiple levels of responsibility, including:

• Optimizing front-end compilers to transform training and inference workloads into compute graphs for new AI hardware, estimating their performance.
• Writing PTX-level or lower-level codes for critical kernels to maximize performance on cutting-edge microarchitectures.
• Designing and refining new hardware architectures to push the boundaries of computational efficiency.
• Leveraging AI-driven approaches to revolutionize software compiler development and hardware design processes.

Tech Stack

• Programming Languages: Python, Rust, C++
• Kernel Coding: CUDA, Triton, PTX, other accelerator-specific Assemblies
• Modularized Compiling Tools: OpenXLA, MLIR, LLVM
• Hardware Descriptions: VHDL, Verilog, other accelerator-friendly hardware design languages, like Chisel

Ideal Experience

• Proficiency in coding for accelerators, including CUDA, cutlass, HIP, ROCm, Triton, and other assembly languages or DSLs.
• Experience simulating training workloads on novel AI hardware architectures.
• Experience with compiler toolchain development and a deep understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of modular tools such as OpenXLA, MLIR, and LLVM.
• Hands-on experience with distributed training and/or high-QPS production inference.
• Deep understanding of the microarchitecture of AI accelerators and GPUs.
• R&D experience in using AI for software compiler and/or hardware design.

Location

This role is based in the Bay Area (San Francisco and Palo Alto). Candidates are expected to reside in or be willing to relocate to the Bay Area.

Interview Process

After submitting your application, our team will review your CV and statement of exceptional work. If selected, you’ll be invited to a 15-minute phone interview, where a team member will ask introductory questions. Successful candidates will proceed to the main interview process, which includes four technical interviews:

• Coding Assessment: Complete a coding task in a language of your choice.
• Systems Hands-On: Demonstrate practical skills in a live problem-solving session.
• Project Deep-Dive: Present your past exceptional work to a small audience.
• Meet-and-Greet: Connect with members of the broader team.

Our goal is to complete the main interview process within one week. We don’t use recruiters for assessments—every application is evaluated by a member of our technical team. All interviews will be conducted via Google Meet.

Annual Salary Range

$180,000 - $500,000 USD

xAI is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, religion, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, medical conditions, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. 

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act. 

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:

xAI reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: 

• Access to information technology systems and confidential information, including proprietary and trade secret information, and/or user data;
• Interacting with internal and/or external clients and colleagues; and
• Exercising sound judgment.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Notice