Site Reliability Engineer - Storage

As a Site Reliability Storage Engineer at xAI, you will design, build, and operate exascale storage systems for cutting-edge AI research data across multiple regions. Your core responsibility is to ensure the reliability and performance of heterogeneous storage systems in on-premise and cloud environments. You will develop and optimize software for efficient data access, enhance infrastructure cost-effectiveness, collaborate with researchers, and implement robust security measures to safeguard critical datasets.

Must Have

• Design, build, and operate exascale storage systems.
• Manage cutting-edge AI research data with unparalleled scalability and reliability.
• Ensure heterogeneous storage systems in on-premise and cloud are reliable and performant.
• Possess expertise in exascale data management systems or distributed filesystems.
• Develop and optimize software to manage exascale data.
• Enhance the reliability, performance, and cost-effectiveness of xAI’s storage infrastructure.
• Collaborate closely with researchers to understand their data use cases.
• Implement robust security measures to safeguard critical datasets.

Good to Have

• Experience with AI/ML data pipelines, including handling large datasets for training and inference.

Perks & Benefits

• equity
• comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
• access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• short & long-term disability insurance
• life insurance
• various other discounts and perks

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

As a Site Reliability Storage Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in designing, building, and operating exascale storage systems to manage our cutting-edge AI research data with unparalleled scalability and reliability across multiple regions. This role's core responsibility is to make sure our heterogenous storage systems in on-prem + cloud are reliable and performant.

We’re seeking engineers with expertise in exascale data management systems or distributed filesystems to join our mission-driven team.

What you’ll do

• Develop and optimize software to manage exascale data, enabling efficient and reliable access for xAI researchers working on advanced AI models.
• Enhance the reliability, performance, and cost-effectiveness of xAI’s storage infrastructure to support large-scale AI research workloads.
• Collaborate closely with researchers to understand their data use cases and tailor storage solutions to meet their needs.
• Implement robust security measures to safeguard critical datasets, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.

Ideal Experience

You’d be an exceptional candidate if you possess some (or all) of the following:

• Writing scalable, high-performance code in Rust or Go for storage-related applications or tooling.
• Managing storage infrastructure with IaC tools like Pulumi, Terraform, or Ansible.
• Past experience working with storage vendors facilitating partnership alignment, and integrating their tooling within xAI’s Infrastructure.
• Familiarity with Kubernetes storage primitives (e.g., Persistent Volumes, CSI drivers) and integrating storage with containerized workloads.
• Bonus: Experience with AI/ML data pipelines, including handling large datasets for training and inference.

Tech Stack

• Kubernetes
• Pulumi
• Rust and Go

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 45 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 Python, Golang, or Rust
• Systems hands-on: Demonstrate practical skills in a live problem-solving session.
• Coding assessment or system design discussion based on the candidate's background.
• Project deep-dive: Present your past exceptional work to a small audience.

Every application is reviewed by a member of our technical team. All interviews will be conducted via Google Meet.

We do not condone usage of AI in interviews and have tools to detect AI usage.

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.

xAI is an equal opportunity employer.

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