Product Engineer - Desktop Apps Lead

Posted 11 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Palo Alto, CA
In-Office
180K-440K
Mid level
Information Technology
The Role
Lead the development of high-performance Electron-based desktop apps, optimizing for cross-platform use and integrating AI features while collaborating with product teams.
Summary Generated by Built In
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

You will lead the building high-performance Electron-based desktop apps, enabling cross-platform experiences for our users on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This role focuses on bringing AI experiences from the web into the desktop. And, employees in this role are expected to bring in expertise in desktop app architecture, capabilities, and UX patterns. Experience with Electron is required.

Responsibilities
  • Convert xAI’s core web platform into an Electron framework, optimizing for desktop performance and integrating native features like file system access, notifications, and hardware APIs.
  • Build and maintain modular Electron architectures, including main process and renderer optimizations, to support AI-driven features.
  • Collaborate with product and model training teams to prototype desktop-specific experiences that enhance user engagement.
  • Test and debug across platforms to deliver polished, secure applications that meet xAI’s standards for reliability and user-centric design.
Required Qualifications
  • 2+ years of strong software development experience building and shipping Electron-based applications, with a focus on web-to-desktop migrations.
  • Strong proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, and modern web frameworks (e.g., React).
  • Familiarity with Electron-specific tools such as Electron Forge or Electron Builder.
  • Experience with cross-platform packaging, native modules (e.g., via node-gyp or Rust bindings), and debugging tools for desktop environments.
  • Proven track record of optimizing applications for performance, security, and offline functionality.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Deep expertise in desktop application architecture and operating system integration.
  • Experience with rapid prototyping and iteration, balancing technical constraints with user needs.
  • Familiarity with system-level challenges, such as packaging, distribution, and performance tuning for resource-intensive AI workloads.
  • A passion for creating clean, developer-friendly experiences and pushing AI-driven desktop innovation.
  • Strong collaboration skills, with experience owning end-to-end development in a team setting.
  • A proactive mindset with a touch of humor to thrive in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.
Annual Salary Range

$180,000 - $440,000 USD

Benefits

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.

xAI is an equal opportunity employer.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Notice

Top Skills

Electron
JavaScript
Node.js
React
Typescript
Am I A Good Fit?
beta
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

The Company
HQ: San Francisco, CA
96 Employees

What We Do

Understand the Universe

Similar Jobs

ZS Logo ZS

Consultant

Artificial Intelligence • Healthtech • Professional Services • Analytics • Consulting
Hybrid
3 Locations
13000 Employees
143K-175K Annually

Atlassian Logo Atlassian

Software Engineer

Cloud • Information Technology • Productivity • Security • Software • App development • Automation
In-Office or Remote
San Francisco, CA, USA
11000 Employees
123K-193K Annually

Atlassian Logo Atlassian

Software Engineer

Cloud • Information Technology • Productivity • Security • Software • App development • Automation
In-Office or Remote
San Francisco, CA, USA
11000 Employees
123K-193K Annually

Instawork Logo Instawork

Revenue Systems Manager

eCommerce • Food • HR Tech • Information Technology • Mobile • Retail • Software
Easy Apply
Hybrid
San Francisco, CA, USA
400 Employees
120K-160K

Similar Companies Hiring

Axle Health Thumbnail
Logistics • Information Technology • Healthtech • Artificial Intelligence
Santa Monica, CA
17 Employees
Scrunch AI Thumbnail
Software • SEO • Marketing Tech • Information Technology • Artificial Intelligence
Salt Lake City, Utah
Standard Template Labs Thumbnail
Software • Information Technology • Artificial Intelligence
New York, NY
10 Employees

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account