What are the responsibilities and job description for the Software Engineer - Search & Retrieval position at xai?
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.
Tech Stack
- Python
- JAX
- Rust
- Spark
Location
The role is based in the Bay Area [San Francisco and Palo Alto]. Candidates are expected to be located near the Bay Area or open to relocation.
About the Role
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.
Focus
- 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
Ideal Experience
- 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
Interview 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:
- Coding assessment 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 with the wider team.
Our goal is to finish the main process within one week. All interviews will be conducted via Google Meet.
Annual Salary Range
$180,000 - $440,000 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
Salary : $180,000 - $440,000
