Software Engineering Specialist - Human Data

xAI; United States; Remote; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

xAI is seeking a Software Engineering Specialist for the Human Data team. This fully remote role involves creating data for training AI models, collaborating with technical staff, and requires strong programming skills, particularly in Python or JavaScript. Candidates should have a minimum of 2 years of experience and be comfortable with data annotation tasks. The position offers flexible hours and competitive pay rates ranging from $55 to $65 per hour.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of hands-on industry experience in software development.
• Strong grasp of computer science fundamentals like data structures and algorithms.

Responsibilities

• Curate code examples and offer precise solutions in Python, JavaScript, C/C++, and Java.
• Evaluate and refine AI-generated code for efficiency and reliability.

Skills

English

Python

JavaScript

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

SQL

Kubernetes

Spark

Kafka

gRPC

AWS

Job description

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 and researchers 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 Software Engineering Specialist on the Human Data team, you will be responsible for creating cutting-edge data to facilitate the training of large language models. Collaborating closely with technical staff, you will contribute to datasets for model training, benchmarking, and overall advancement.

The Software Engineering Specialist - Human Datarole is a full-time remote position. Part-time may be offered on a case-by-case basis but full-time is strongly preferred (please see the bottom of this job description for more details).

Human Data team's Role in Advancing xAI's Mission

As a member of the Human Data team, you will play an essential role in advancing xAI's mission by supporting the training and refinement of xAI's AI models. Members of the Human Data team teach our AI models about how people interact and react, as well as about how people approach issues and discussions. To accomplish this, every member of Human Data will actively participate in gathering or providing data, such as text, voice, and video data, sometimes providing annotations, recording audio, or participating in video sessions. We seek individuals who are comfortable and eager to engage in these activities as a fundamental part of the role, ensuring a strong alignment with xAI's goals and objectives to innovate.

Scope

Members of the Human Data team will provide services that include labeling and annotating data in text, voice, and video formats to support AI model training. At times, this may involve recording audio or video sessions, and you are expected to be comfortable with these tasks as they are fundamental to the role. Such data is a job requirement to advance xAI's mission, and members of the Human Data team acknowledge that all work is done for hire and owned by xAI.

Responsibilities

• AI model training initiatives by curating code examples, offering precise solutions, and meticulous corrections in Python, JavaScript (including ReactJS), C/C++, and Java.
• Evaluate and refine AI-generated code, ensuring it adheres to industry standards for efficiency, scalability, and reliability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance AI-driven coding solutions, ensuring they meet enterprise-level quality and performance benchmarks.

Key Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency in English, both verbal and written.
• Strong experience in either Python or JavaScript, with a solid foundation in software development practices. Please note that for those with experience in only JavaScript, experience with ReactJS is preferred but not required. Knowledge of other languages is a strong plus.
• Strong grasp of computer science fundamentals like data structures, algorithms, and debugging skills.
• A minimum of 2 years of hands-on industry experience with a proven track record in software development and/or public proof of work (such as on GitHub).
• Extensive experience with a wide array of tools and systems such as Databases, SQL, Kubernetes, Spark, Kafka, gRPC, and AWS.

Preferred Qualifications

• The ideal candidate for this role is adaptable, possesses strong logical reasoning skills, is detail-oriented, and thrives in a fast-paced work environment.
• Evidence of meaningful contributions to open source projects or high reputation on platforms like Stack Overflow or evidence of strong performance in programming competitions.
• Enthusiasm to collaboratively build the best truth-seeking AI out there!

Additional Requirements

• Demonstrates a strong capacity to quickly adapt by learning new skills and unlearning outdated ones, thriving in dynamic and changing environments.
• For those who will be working from a personal device, please note your computer must be capable of running Windows 10 or macOS BigSur 11.0 or later.

Location, Hourly, and Other Expectations

• This position is fully remote.
• We are unable to provide visa sponsorship.
• If you are based in the US, please note we are unable to hire in the states of Wyoming and Illinois at this time.
• You must own and have reliable access to a smartphone.
• Please indicate your interest in either full-time, part-time, or either in the application. Note that:
  
  • Full-Time (40 hours per week): Full-time schedules are 9-5:30pm in your local time zone. The first week will be 9-5:30pm PST for onboarding.
  • Part-Time (20-29 hours per week): While hours are flexible around your schedule, you must be committed to working at least 20 hours per week (with at least 10 of these hours worked on weekdays) and no more than 29 hours per week.

Compensation and Benefits

• The pay for this role may range from $55/hour - $65/hour.
• Your actual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
• For full-time roles, specific benefits vary by country, depending on your country of residence you may have access to medical benefits. We do not offer benefits for part-time roles.

xAI is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, religion, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, medical conditions, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:

xAI reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment:

• Access to information technology systems and confidential information, including proprietary and trade secret information, and/or user data;
• Interacting with internal and/or external clients and colleagues; and
• Exercising sound judgment.

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