Software Engineer - Platform Core (C++, C)

Xai
Palo Alto +1 more
On-site

Who this role is best for

Aimed at mid-level systems engineers with strong C/C++ and OS fundamentals who thrive in collaborative, hands-on environments.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with mid-level systems programming experience and a background in hardware-software integration
    — “Build and maintain the lean, high-reliability Linux-based operating system that underpins our supercomputer network fabric.”
  • Individuals who can articulate complex technical processes from hardware to application layers
    — “Strong operating systems fundamentals (scheduling, memory management, I/O) — [REDACTED] be able to articulate in extreme detail how a computer works, from the hardware all the way up to high-level applications.”

Things to consider

  • The role demands a high level of communication and collaboration, with no room for ambiguity
    — “All employees are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.”
  • Candidates must be prepared to work in a flat structure with leadership based on initiative and performance
    — “Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with device drivers and hardware interface standards in your resume and interviews
    — “Demonstrated track record of developing and optimizing device/peripheral drivers — ideally for high-speed interfaces, or with advanced considerations like DMA and cache coherency.”
  • Emphasize your ability to debug across multiple layers of the system stack
    — “Proficiency with debugging tools spanning kernel, network, and userspace (e.g., ftrace, perf, Wireshark/tcpdump, eBPF, gdb, and more).”
  • Showcase projects where you brought up hardware from scratch or worked with schematics
    — “Experience bringing up new hardware from scratch — you have flashed bare-metal software on a microcontroller with JTAG, or bootstrapped a Linux kernel and rootfs on new hardware.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Senior

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • build and maintain high-reliability Linux-based operating system
  • write high-performance device drivers
  • manage deployment and operation of platform in production
  • develop tools for observability and configuration management
  • collaborate with hardware teams and external partners
Typical background
systems programmingoperating systemsnetworking

Skills & requirements

Required

Systems ProgrammingOperating Systems FundamentalsComputer NetworkingLinux KernelNetworking StackDebugging ToolsHardware DesignDevice DriversHigh-speed InterfacesDMACache CoherencyProduct SecurityOs/system HardeningSecure Boot Schemes

Preferred

Linux KernelNetworking StackDebugging ToolsHardware DesignDevice DriversHigh-speed InterfacesDMACache CoherencyProduct SecurityOs/system HardeningSecure Boot Schemes

Stack & domain

C++CLinuxDevice DriversNetworkingOperating SystemsDebugging ToolsProduct SecurityOS HardeningSecure Boot SchemesCommunicationProblem SolvingTeamworkComputer NetworkingHardwareSecurity

About the role

Original posting from Xai via Greenhouse

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

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Build and maintain the lean, high-reliability Linux-based operating system that underpins our supercomputer network fabric.

Write (or rewrite) high-performance device drivers to extract the maximum physical capability from our network and compute hardware.

Manage deployment, operation, and debugging of our platform in production, including:

Rigorous resolution and root-causing of anomalies to ensure the system is constantly improving in reliability.

Developing and constantly improving our tools for observability and configuration management.

Collaborate with our hardware teams and external partners to design the next generation of supercomputer hardware – and then bring up our OS and software stack on it.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Hands-on systems programming experience in C or C++.

Strong operating systems fundamentals (scheduling, memory management, I/O) — you must be able to articulate in extreme detail how a computer works, from the hardware all the way up to high-level applications.

Understanding of computer networking, both in the host (OS stack) as well as common network devices like switches and routers.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Deep knowledge of the Linux kernel and its networking stack — transferable experience with another production-grade kernel is okay, too!

Proficiency with debugging tools spanning kernel, network, and userspace (e.g., ftrace, perf, Wireshark/tcpdump, eBPF, gdb, and more).

Experience bringing up new hardware from scratch — you have flashed bare-metal software on a microcontroller with JTAG, or bootstrapped a Linux kernel and rootfs on new hardware.

Demonstrated track record of developing and optimizing device/peripheral drivers — ideally for high-speed interfaces, or with advanced considerations like DMA and cache coherency.

Understanding of major peripheral hardware interface standards (Ethernet, PCIe, I2C, SPI, etc.) — you can critically review a schematic, and debug these interfaces if needed.

Experience with product security, OS/system hardening, and secure boot schemes.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

$180,000 - $440,000 USD

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.

SpaceXAI is an equal opportunity employer. For details on data processing, view our Recruitment Privacy Notice.

Source: Xai careers (Greenhouse)

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