Software Engineer - Search & Retrieval

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. Engineers are encouraged to work across multiple areas of the company, and as a result, all engineers and researchers share the title "Member of Technical Staff."

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.

xAI does not have recruiters. Every application is reviewed directly by a technical member of the team.

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:

1. Coding assessment in a language of your choice.
2. Systems hands-on: Demonstrate practical skills in a live problem-solving session.
3. Project deep-dive: Present your past exceptional work to a small audience.
4. Meet and greet with the wider team.

Our goal is to finish the main process within one week. We don’t rely on recruiters for assessments. Every application is reviewed by a member of our technical team. All interviews will be conducted via Google Meet.

Annual Salary Range

$180,000 - $440,000 USD