Kubernetes Platform Engineer, Infrastructure (GroqMetal)

The posting, as Groq wrote it

About Groq
Inference is the engine that powers AI, and Groq was built from the silicon up to deliver the world's fastest inference at scale. We pioneered the LPU—the first processor designed specifically for AI inference—and are transforming that innovation into a global cloud platform powering production AI workloads.

With the capital, infrastructure, and team to execute, we're uniquely positioned to define the next era of AI infrastructure. The opportunity is massive, and it's still wide open. Now let's go build it!

Mission

GroqMetal is building the infrastructure platform that turns large-scale physical compute into a reliable, isolated, customer-consumable product. As a Kubernetes Platform Engineer, you will build and operate production software within the GroqMetal platform, helping deliver Kubernetes as a commercial product for customers running large-scale AI training and inference workloads.

You will own meaningful platform components, work alongside experienced infrastructure engineers, and develop deep expertise in Kubernetes, distributed systems, and large-scale AI infrastructure.

Location: This role will be based in one of our three hiring hubs: the Dallas, San Francisco, or New York City area . The person hired for this role must be based in one of these three areas. You’ll have the flexibility to work remotely while we establish our local Groq office, with the expectation that this role will transition to onsite once the office opens.

Responsibilities & opportunities in this role

• Build production Kubernetes platform capabilities: Implement APIs, controllers, operators, automation, and platform services that support the GroqMetal product by extending Kubernetes.
• Own components end to end: Take responsibility for well-defined platform capabilities from design and implementation through testing, deployment, operation, and continuous improvement.
• Operate what you build: Improve reliability, observability, performance, and operational efficiency, and participate in diagnosing and resolving production issues.
• Build a Kubernetes platform as a commercial platform: Develop capabilities used by dedicated customers running large-scale AI training and inference workloads.
• Develop distributed systems expertise: Build software that handles retries, failures, concurrency, reconciliation, and changing infrastructure state correctly.
• Improve the platform: Identify reliability, scalability, and usability problems and work with the team to deliver durable solutions.
• Collaboration is a core skill: Work within a team of experts to elevate the collective efforts of our team. Collaborate with engineers across infrastructure, inference, networking, infosec, and related teams to integrate platform capabilities holistically.
• Grow your technical scope: Contribute to design discussions, engineering practices, and technical decisions while developing toward ownership of increasingly complex platform systems.

Ideal candidates
[…]
ied individuals with physical or mental disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application or to participate in the hiring process, please contact us at talent@groq.com . This contact is for accommodation requests only, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

All offers of employment are contingent upon verification of the applicant’s identity and employment authorization in accordance with federal law.

Groq encourages people with criminal record histories to apply for employment, and values diverse experiences, including prior contact with the criminal legal system. To that end, Groq welcomes such applicants in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles City Fair Chance Act Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Act Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Act Ordinance. Philadelphia applicants can review information pertaining to Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance here: https://www.phila.gov/documents/fair-chance-hiring-law-poster .

As part of our hiring process, Groq may use artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools or automated systems to assist with activities such as reviewing applications, evaluating qualifications, scheduling interviews, analyzing assessment responses, or supporting recruiting operations. These tools are designed to assist—not replace—human decision-making, and hiring decisions are subject to human review. We may process information you provide during the application process, including resumes, application materials, interview responses, assessments, and, where applicable, audio, video, or transcript data. If legally required, we will request consent before using technologies that analyze biometric or video interview data. Candidates may request reasonable accommodations, an alternative evaluation process, additional information regarding the use of AI in the hiring process, or review of certain automated decisions by contacting ta-operations@groq.com.