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Senior Backend Engineer - Starfleet

xaiPalo Alto, CA

today

Occupations

Software DevelopersComputer and Information Research ScientistsWeb Developers

Industries

Custom Computer Programming ServicesComputer Systems Design ServicesSoftware Publishers

$130,000.00-$182,000.001 year

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About the role

Join to apply for the Senior Backend Engineer - Starfleet role at xAIJoin to apply for the Senior Backend Engineer - Starfleet role at xAIGet AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.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 xAIxAI'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: The Starfleet team is responsible for creating the tools and systems necessary to drive frontier model performance. We collaborate closely with our research teams and AI tutor teams to develop new solutions that accelerate research progress across model capabilities, evaluation, safety, and alignment.
About the Role: In this role you might:
  • Design and build robust, scalable backend systems to power our AI-driven tools and platforms.
  • Develop APIs and distributed systems that handle high-throughput data processing for model training and evaluation.
  • Create secure, reliable pipelines to support innovative human data generation and agentic workflows.
  • Optimize infrastructure to leverage cutting-edge GPU resources for maximum performance.
  • Innovate new approaches that bring us closer to our goal: to develop AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge.
  • Exceptional candidates may have:
  • Experience building high-performance backend systems in dynamic, fast-paced environments - as a tech lead, former founder, etc.
  • Expertise in designing scalable distributed systems and APIs with a compiled language like Rust or C++.Experience optimizing data pipelines for machine learning workloads or real-time applications.
  • Familiarity with frontend technologies (e.g., TypeScript, React) to collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional teams.
Tech Stack: Typescript, Python, RustReact, Express, PostgreSQLLocationThe 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.
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.
  • Front end technical interview, in React/Typescript
  • Systems hands-on: Demonstrate practical skills in a live problem-solving session.
Meet the Team:
  • Present your past exceptional work and your vision with xAI to a small audience.
  • 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 USDxAI is an equal opportunity employer.
  • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Notice
  • Seniority level
  • Mid-Senior level
  • Employment type
Full-time Job function Engineering and Information Technology IndustriesTechnology, Information and Internet Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at xAI by 2xGet notified about new Back End Developer jobs in Palo Alto, CA.Palo Alto, CA $96,000 - $200,000 2 weeks agoAssociate Software Engineer, Backend PythonSan Jose, CA $142,400 - $190,100 2 weeks agoFull Stack Software Engineer - Post-training Backend Software Engineer, Cloud Kitchens - San Francisco/Bay Area, CAMountain View, CA$157,000.00-$202,000.002 months ago Sunnyvale, CA$117,000.00-$234,000.001 week agoe Commerce Full Stack Developer (React / Shopify) - On SiteSan Jose, CA$130,000.00-$182,000.001 year ago Palo Alto, CA$150,000.00-$220,000.008 hours agoFull Stack Software Engineer (L4), Product Localization Engineering San Francisco Bay Area$72,800.00-$110,000.003 weeks agoAssociate Software Engineer, Backend Java Backend Software Engineer, Observability Palo Alto, CA$113,000.00-$200,000.002 weeks agoFull Stack Software Engineer (L5) - Partner Device Lifecycle Apps Team Software Engineer II (Fullstack/Mobile), Discovery Experience Sunnyvale, CA $167,000 - $185,500 1 month agoFull Stack Software Engineer - Multimodal Backend Engineer - Events and Notifications San Mateo, CA $130,000 - $280,000 4 days agoFull-Stack Engineer (L5), Identity & Security Experiences We're unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.

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JOB OVERVIEW

Salary

$130,000.00-$182,000.001 year

Experience level

Senior

Location

Palo Alto, CA

Occupation

Software Developers

Industry

Custom Computer Programming Services

Posted

today

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