Connectivity Systems Engineer

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. 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 are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.

About the Role

The Connectivity Systems Engineer will be responsible for designing, specifying, and implementing structured cabling and fiber optic systems for xAI’s hyperscale data center build-outs. This role requires expertise in high-density cabling solutions, optical network design, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, high-performance infrastructure that supports xAI’s advanced AI and GPU cluster workloads. You will play a critical role in ensuring the reliability and efficiency of our data center connectivity to drive our mission forward.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop structured cabling systems, including copper (Cat6/6A) and fiber optic solutions (OM4, OM5, single-mode), for xAI’s data center environments, ensuring compliance with industry standards such as TIA-942 and BICSI.
• Create detailed optical system architectures, including high-density fiber optic networks (MPO/MTP, LC, DWDM), to support high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity for AI and GPU clusters.
• Produce comprehensive design documentation, including schematics, rack elevations, pathway plans, and bills of materials (BOMs), using tools like AutoCAD, Revit, or Visio.
• Collaborate with network, electrical, and mechanical engineering teams to integrate cabling and optical designs into overall data center layouts, optimizing for power, cooling, and space constraints.
• Conduct capacity planning to ensure cabling infrastructure supports current and future AI workload demands, including 400G/800G network deployments.
• Oversee installation, testing, and validation of cabling and optical systems, using tools like OTDR, power meters, and VFL to ensure performance and reliability.
• Provide technical expertise during procurement, evaluating vendors and selecting cabling components, optical transceivers, and connectivity hardware.
• Develop and maintain cabling standards, labeling schemes, and documentation processes to ensure consistency across multi-site data center deployments.
• Support rapid design iterations to meet aggressive project timelines, addressing challenges such as high-density rack configurations and advanced cooling systems (e.g., liquid cooling).
• Troubleshoot and resolve cabling-related issues during commissioning and operations to ensure minimal downtime for mission-critical systems.
• Contribute to process improvements and automation initiatives (e.g., Python scripting for design validation) to enhance cabling design workflows.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.
• 3+ years of experience in structured cabling and fiber optic system design, preferably in data center or hyperscale environments.
• Proficiency in design tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, or Visio for creating detailed schematics and layouts.
• Strong knowledge of fiber optic technologies, including single-mode, multi-mode, DWDM, and high-density connectivity solutions (MPO/MTP, LC).
• Familiarity with data center standards (e.g., TIA-942, Uptime Institute) and networking protocols (e.g., Ethernet, InfiniBand).

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 5+ years of experience in data center cabling design and deployment for hyperscale or cloud provider environments.
• Experience with AI/HPC infrastructure, GPU cluster connectivity, or liquid-cooled data center designs.
• Proficiency in scripting or automation tools (e.g., Python, Bash) for design or testing workflows.
• Certifications such as RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution Designer), DCDC (Data Center Design Consultant), or CFOT (Certified Fiber Optic Technician).
• Knowledge of network hardware (e.g., NVIDIA, Cisco, Arista) and optical transceivers (QSFP-DD, OSFP).

xAI is an equal opportunity employer.

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