Backend Engineer

Job Description:

We're looking for a skilled Backend Engineer to join our team at xAI. As a Backend Engineer, you will work on our production systems that power the API.

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.

Responsibilities:

• Work on xAI's production systems that power the API
• Design, implement, and maintain reliable and horizontally scalable distributed systems
• Operate commonly used databases such as PostgreSQL, Clickhouse, and MongoDB
• Ensure service observability and reliability best practices

Requirements:

• Expert knowledge of either Rust or C++
• Experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining reliable and horizontally scalable distributed systems
• Knowledge of service observability and reliability best practices
• Experience in operating commonly used databases such as PostgreSQL, Clickhouse, and MongoDB

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Knowledge of Python
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and containerized applications
• Expert knowledge of gRPC (unary, response streaming, bi-directional streaming, REST mapping)
• Hands-on experience with LLM APIs, embeddings, or RAG patterns
• Track record of delivering user-facing software at scale

Benefits:

• Strong communication skills
• Ability to concisely and accurately share knowledge with teammates
• Flat organisational structure
• Opportunity to work on challenging projects

Note: This job description is a rewritten version of the original ad, focusing on the job requirements and responsibilities.