At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and maintain the xAI API for global developers, ensuring high performance and reliability.
- Company: Join a small, innovative team at xAI focused on engineering excellence and curiosity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work environment, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Flat organisational structure that values initiative and strong communication skills.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in AI while working with cutting-edge technologies like Rust.
- Qualifications: Expertise in Rust or C++, and experience with scalable distributed systems.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
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 employees are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.
ABOUT THE ROLE: As an ideal candidate you have a good understanding of how highly scalable and reliable production infrastructure is built. Most of our backend infrastructure is written in Rust. So familiarity with a compiled language such as C++, Rust, or Go is highly beneficial.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Build the xAI API that serves our models to developers worldwide
- Own the end‑to‑end system responsible for high‑throughput inference, handling billions of tokens per minute with low latency and high availability, including model serving infrastructure, request routing, SDK development, rate limiting, observability, and efficient scaling
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- 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:
- Experience with LLM inference engines and serving frameworks (e.g., SGLang, TensorRT, vLLM)
- Experience designing or building with agent SDKs and agent orchestration frameworks
- Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and containerized applications
- Expert knowledge of gRPC (unary, response streaming, bi‑directional streaming, REST mapping)
Backend Engineer - API in London employer: x.ai
At xAI, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. Our flat organisational structure empowers every team member to take initiative and contribute directly to our mission of advancing AI technology. With a focus on engineering excellence, we offer ample opportunities for professional growth, a supportive work environment, and the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies in a dynamic and curious team.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Engineer - API in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get your hands dirty with some practical projects! Build a small API or contribute to open-source projects using Rust or C++. This not only sharpens your skills but also gives you something tangible to discuss during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Join online communities or local meetups related to backend engineering and AI. Engaging with others in the field can lead to job opportunities and valuable insights that you won’t find on job boards.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by practicing coding challenges and system design questions. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of problems you might face, especially around scalable systems.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in our mission. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills align with our goals, and show us your passion for engineering excellence.
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Engineer - API in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI:When writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for AI and how it aligns with our mission. Share any personal projects or experiences that showcase your curiosity and drive in this field.
Highlight Relevant Skills:Make sure to emphasise your expertise in Rust or C++. We want to know how your skills can contribute to building our API and infrastructure. Be specific about your experience with scalable systems and databases.
Be Concise and Clear:Strong communication is key! Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points if necessary to make it easy for us to see your qualifications and experiences at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re proactive!
How to prepare for a job interview at x.ai
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Rust or C++. Be ready to discuss your experience with distributed systems and how you've built scalable infrastructure in the past. They’ll want to see that you can not only talk the talk but also walk the walk!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to tackle some technical challenges during the interview. Think about how you would approach building a high-throughput inference system. Practise explaining your thought process clearly, as strong communication is key for this role.
✨Demonstrate Initiative
Since they value hands-on contributions, come prepared with examples of when you took the lead on a project or solved a complex problem. Highlight your work ethic and prioritisation skills, showing that you can manage tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Don’t forget to prepare some thoughtful questions about their API and infrastructure. This shows your curiosity and genuine interest in their mission. It’s a great way to demonstrate that you’re not just looking for any job, but that you’re excited about contributing to their goals.
