Sr. IT Data Engineer New Palo Alto, CA

x.ai; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Short & long-term disability insurance

Life insurance

Discounts and other perks

Job summary

x.ai is seeking a Data Engineer to lead its data strategy and implement ETL patterns. You will support internal applications and improve processes while maintaining a healthy application environment.

The ideal candidate will have a BA/BS in a related field, a minimum of 5 years of experience, and strong skills in databases and programming languages like Java and Python. The role is based in Palo Alto, California.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in data engineering or similar role.
• Strong experience with databases and advanced SQL.
• Hands-on experience with integrations and APIs.

Responsibilities

• Implement and support applications for internal customers.
• Lead data strategy and deliver against time-sensitive priorities.
• Collaborate effectively with business and engineering teams.

Skills

Database management

Advanced SQL

Java development

Python programming

API integrations

Agile methodology

Education

BA/BS in related field

Computer Science degree preferred

Tools

Vertica

MySQL

Kafka

RabbitMQ

Job description

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

ABOUT THE ROLE

At xAI, the IT Data Engineering team implements and supports applications to help internal customers meet their operational needs. We establish processes for continual improvement, guide administration, and partner with multiple stakeholders on a project-to-project basis. Our mission is to keep the business running effectively while maintaining a healthy application environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Help lead xAI’s data strategy by implementing established ETL patterns, creating and supporting dependable infrastructure, and reusable components.
• Partner with business and engineering teams to prioritize requests and consistently deliver excellent results against time‑sensitive priorities.
• Collaborate effectively in a fast‑paced environment using strong interpersonal communication skills.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS in a related field (Computer Science degree preferred)
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience, preferably in an enterprise environment
• Strong experience with databases (Vertica, MySQL, or similar) and advanced SQL
• Java development experience (Spring, JEE/JSE) and proficiency in Python or other modern languages
• Hands‑on experience with integrations, APIs, and message queuing technologies (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ)
• Experience working with 3rd party APIs (Salesforce, Workday, etc.)
• Background working in an Agile environment

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience with API Gateways (e.g., Kong), RAML, and REST-based APIs
• Designing and deploying scalable, reliable, high‑volume data integrations and real‑time pipelines
• Big data technologies (Hadoop, MongoDB, HBase, Cassandra)
• On‑prem and cloud enterprise solutions (Oracle, Salesforce, Workday)
• Deep knowledge of access control and data security
• Leading Data/BI/Analytics projects with a customer‑first approach
• Custom ETL design, implementation, and maintenance
• Performance monitoring, error logging, and troubleshooting Java applications

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

$135,000 - $260,000 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.