At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and maintain scalable backend infrastructure for innovative AI applications.
- Company: Join SpaceX, a leader in space exploration and technology development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, comprehensive healthcare, and exciting perks.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for career growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Be part of groundbreaking projects that aim to expand humanity's reach into the universe.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in distributed systems; experience with Rust or C++ is essential.
The predicted salary is between 107000 - 262000 £ per year.
SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today, SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary and expanding consciousness to the stars. SpaceXSI is building Super Intelligence to help humanity understand the universe. Our teams are building the full Super Intelligence stack: from our Colossus supercomputers, to Grok models, to our suite of applications, including Grok Bot, Grok Build, Grok Imagine, Grok Voice, and X. We're creating a powerful flywheel where more compute trains better models, better models power more useful products, and what we learn from people using those products shapes what we build next.
We are looking for Backend Engineers to help build and operate highly scalable, reliable production infrastructure. Most of our backend infrastructure is written in Rust. Experience with a compiled language such as Rust, C++, or Go is highly beneficial.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Build and maintain the unified inference stack as the single surface area for all inference needs across the company.
- Own and evolve the platform services that power Chat API, Imagine API, Voice API, Grok Build, and Grok Bot.
- Design, build, and maintain Chat API features including batch API, collections API, files API, and related capabilities.
- Implement and operate chat moderation and abuse protection systems across the API and grok.com.
- Build and maintain the company-wide logging system for all request types, including enforcement of Zero Data Retention (ZDR) policies.
- Manage multi-region inference cluster (IC) deployments, data aggregation, data replication, and the distributed authentication system.
- Participate in follow-the-sun on-call coverage (UK-Japan-US) to ensure continuous reliability of the inference platform.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- 5+ years of experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining reliable and horizontally scalable distributed systems.
- Experience with Rust or C++.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Experience in operating databases such as PostgreSQL, Clickhouse, and MongoDB.
- Knowledge of service observability and reliability best practices.
- 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).
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
£107,000 - £262,000 GBP. Base salary is just one part of our total rewards package at SpaceXSI, which also includes equity, comprehensive healthcare and dental coverage, cash plan, income protection, life insurance, and various other discounts and perks.
SpaceXSI is an equal opportunity employer. For details on data processing, view our Recruitment Privacy Notice.
Sr. 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 employees to take initiative and contribute directly to groundbreaking projects in AI and finance, while our comprehensive benefits package ensures that your well-being is prioritised. With ample opportunities for professional growth and a dynamic work environment, joining our X Money team means being part of a mission-driven organisation that values curiosity and engineering excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sr. Backend Engineer, API in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at x.ai or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to x.ai.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like x.ai.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like x.ai that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Sr. Backend Engineer, API in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at x.ai.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at x.ai and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at x.ai
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If x.ai uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
