xAISoftware Engineer - Search Ranking
xAI is hiring a Software Engineer - Search Ranking in Palo Alto, United States. It pays $180k-$440k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on xAI.
Level's read on this job
- Level rates this software engineer role Builds AI ●●●●: the job is building AI systems.
- The listed pay starts 7% above the typical software engineer posting on Level.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include Python, Go and Rust.
- Level classifies it as a senior role.
- Level lists 297 other open roles at xAI.
AI in this role
Build search and retrieval algorithms, train ML ranking models, and integrate Grok reasoning capabilities into the X search stack.
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.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The X Search team is responsible for building and operating the core search engine that powers discovery on X. We own the full end-to-end search stack — from real-time retrieval and indexing to ranking and the end-user search experience.
Our goal is to create the most relevant, fast, and intelligent search experience on the internet by combining state-of-the-art information retrieval systems with Grok’s reasoning capabilities.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Build search and retrieval algorithms that scale to millions of users
- Build and operate large scale search engine and search infrastructure
- Train state of the art ML ranking models
- Integrate Grok in search systems and products
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Tech Stack: Python, Go, Rust
- Have worked with vector databases, search indices, or similar data stores for search applications
- Have worked on large-scale search systems
- Have deep experience building or working with production ML systems
- Take full ownership of problems and learn whatever you need to solve them
- Can move quickly in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and tight deadlines
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
$180,000 - $440,000 USD
Base salary is just one part of our total rewards package at SpaceXSI, 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.
SpaceXSI is an equal opportunity employer. For details on data processing, view our Recruitment Privacy Notice.
How we rate this
Software Engineer - Search Ranking at xAI rates 85 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Also common in software engineer jobs at this level
Pay
- This job starts at
- $180k
- Typical software engineer job
- $168k
This posting starts 7% above the typical software engineer job. See software engineer jobs
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where search engines was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where information retrieval was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where machine learning was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where ranking models was part of your work. What did you do?
- Walk me through how you've used Python in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Search Engines, Information Retrieval, Machine learning, Ranking Models, and Python. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
- Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.
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