# Software Engineer, Internal Tools

**Company:** [xAI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/xai)
**Location:** Palo Alto, CA
**Role:** Backend Engineering
**Salary:** $180k – $440k/yr
**Skills:** Rust, C++, APIs, Distributed Systems, Data Pipelines, Machine Learning, TypeScript, React, GPU, Orchestration
**Posted:** 2026-03-06

> Builds scalable backend systems, APIs, data pipelines, and tooling for AI model training, inference, and deployment. Requires expertise in Rust/C++, distributed systems, and ML data pipelines in fast-paced environments.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- 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.

## Required Qualifications
- 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.

## Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with frontend technologies (e.g., TypeScript, React) to collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional teams.

## Annual Salary Range
$180,000 - $440,000 USD

## Benefits
Base salary is just one part of our total rewards package at xAI, which also includes equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and various other discounts and perks.

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