Skip to main content

External opportunity

Lead Engineer, AI Infrastructure (C++, C)

Palo Alto, CA; Seattle, WA / Palo Alto, CA / Seattle, WA Not specified
Apply for this role

Posted 8 Nov 2026 · Engineering

Job description

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. LEAD ENGINEER, AI INFRASTRUCTURE (C++, C) The Grok training program is looking for a lead software engineer on the AI infrastructure team. You will lead the team that architects, implements, and maintains the software infrastructure responsible for training grok models on hundreds of thousands or millions of GPUs. The success of Grok depends on the quality of the software that you and your team produce, including reliability, fault tolerance, throughput, security, and developer experience. You are the engineer that other engineers count on; you are technical, you tackle every problem with enthusiasm; you remove hurdles. You are a self-starter and a team player. We are seeking a talented lead software engineer to join us in making our vision a reality. RESPONSIBILITIES: Develop reliable, performant, and maintainable software responsible for training Grok models in our world-class compute clusters Provide technical direction for future training architectures and hardware designs Work closely with other model engineers, kernel engineers, network engineers, hardware design engineers, platform engineers, and site ops engineers Develop prototypes to prove out key design concepts and quantify technical constraints Lead planning efforts for the team, working with key stakeholders in other teams and management to develop milestones and execute to them BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, math, or technical discipline Hands-on systems programming experience in C or C++ PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: Developed, debugged, and and deployed software that has been used in real world applications/projects 3+ years of software engineering experience OR 1+ years of C/C++ experience at SpaceX Solid fundamental knowledge of NVL72 GB300 racks, computer architecture, networking, math, and physics Strong skills in modelling, debugging, performance optimization, and unit testing Creative approach to problem solving, exceptional analytical skills and engineering fundamentals COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: $220,000 - $357,000 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.
Pay, skills & work eligibility

Compensation

A clear compensation amount was not identified. Ask the employer for the range, currency, pay period and whether it covers base pay or total compensation.

Location, eligibility & working hours

Listed work location
Palo Alto, CA; Seattle, WA / Palo Alto, CA / Seattle, WA
Visa sponsorship
Not stated clearly
Relocation support
Not stated clearly
Working hours / time zone
Not stated clearly

Remote does not automatically mean work from any country. A location match does not confirm work authorization, sponsorship or relocation eligibility.

Requirements at a glance

Experience mentioned: 3+ years

C++

Named skills identified in the listing. A mention is not always a requirement; read the full description and employer conditions.

Explore related jobs