Site Reliability Engineer - Hardware Specialist

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

About the Role

As an SRE - Hardware Specialist, you will serve as a hardware reliability expert focused on firmware, hardware specifications, vendor relations, and failure analysis. You will proactively identify and resolve hardware issues, manage RMA processes, and stay ahead of emerging hardware technologies to support xAI's datacenter operations. This role demands deep technical expertise in hardware diagnostics, vendor negotiations, and forward-looking hardware evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Analyze firmware packages and hardware specifications for upcoming releases to ensure compatibility, performance, and reliability in xAI's datacenter environment.
• Investigate and diagnose hardware failures, including "grey failures" (ambiguous or intermittent issues), proving them as true hardware defects through rigorous testing and data analysis.
• Manage vendor relationships, including initiating RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) claims, negotiating beyond standard processes when necessary, and holding vendors accountable for resolutions.
• Collaborate with Datacenter Operations Technicians to troubleshoot, repair, and optimize hardware systems in real-time.
• Research and evaluate next-generation hardware technologies that are not yet released, providing insights and recommendations to inform xAI's infrastructure roadmap.
• Develop and implement monitoring tools, scripts, and processes to detect hardware anomalies early and minimize downtime.
• Document failure modes, RMA outcomes, and hardware evaluations to build a knowledge base for the team.
• Participate in on-call rotations and incident response for hardware-related issues in the Memphis datacenter.

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

xAI is an equal opportunity employer.

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