As a Senior Site Reliability Engineer at San Francisco Compute Company, you'll be responsible for maintaining the high performance of our ML training clusters. This includes monitoring hardware health, troubleshooting issues, automating hardware management, and communicating directly with customers. Your role will evolve to become more data-driven as you work to predict failures before they occur, ensuring our systems operate smoothly and efficiently.

To apply for the Senior Site Reliability Engineer position at San Francisco Compute Company, candidates should have experience managing GPU training clusters, preferably with knowledge of clusters exceeding 1,000 GPUs. A strong understanding of Linux, Kubernetes, and networking fundamentals is essential. Additionally, familiarity with technologies like CUDA, NCCL, and Infiniband will be advantageous. Nice-to-haves include experience with Go or Rust and distributed storage systems.

San Francisco Compute Company is committed to the professional growth of its Senior Site Reliability Engineers. We offer an unlimited office book budget, ensuring that you always have access to the latest knowledge in your field. Additionally, our generous equity grants and comprehensive benefits package, including retirement matching and paid time off, reflect our dedication to your long-term success and well-being.

A Senior Site Reliability Engineer at San Francisco Compute Company should be proficient in managing Kubernetes clusters, understanding Linux deeply, and possessing knowledge of networking fundamentals. Familiarity with GPU computing technologies like CUDA, NCCL, and Infiniband is crucial. Additional proficiency in distributed storage systems and Linux virtualization can benefit your role significantly.

The work culture at San Francisco Compute Company is collaborative and innovative, emphasizing continuous learning and inclusivity. Senior Site Reliability Engineers are encouraged to communicate regularly with customers and seek out resources that enhance their technical expertise. The company fosters a supportive environment where your ideas are valued and you can enjoy workplace perks like unlimited time off and daily lunches.

When answering this question, share specific details about the GPU clusters you’ve managed, including the size and technology used. Highlight any challenges you faced and how you overcame them, focusing on your problem-solving abilities and your understanding of the complexities involved in cluster management.

Discuss your approach to reliability, including monitoring tools you use, best practices for maintenance, and your strategies for automation. It's important to convey your proactive mindset and how you prioritize minimizing downtime while optimizing performance.

In your answer, provide an overview of your hands-on experience with Kubernetes, detailing how you’ve used it for deploying and managing applications in production environments. Cite specific examples that illustrate your understanding of orchestration, scaling, and troubleshooting.

Outline a methodical approach to diagnosing cluster failures. Include steps such as checking logs, analyzing system metrics, and using monitoring tools to identify bottlenecks. Emphasize your analytical skills and experience with similar situations to provide reassurance to the interviewer.

Explain a specific project where your automation efforts led to measurable improvements in performance or reliability. Describe the tools used, the challenges you faced, and how your solution made an impact, demonstrating your ability to innovate within the role.

Share your methods for staying current with industry trends, such as attending conferences, participating in online forums, or taking courses. Emphasize your passion for continuous learning and how it enhances your ability to contribute to the team.

Discuss the importance of good documentation in ensuring clear communication and effective operations within technical teams. Share specific examples where documentation played a critical role in onboarding, troubleshooting, or improving processes.

Emphasize the significance of customer communication in understanding their needs and improving system reliability. Share examples of how direct feedback has led to enhancements in your previous roles, showcasing your customer-centric approach.

Be prepared to discuss a specific instance where you successfully optimized performance, detailing the problem, the steps you took, and the results achieved. This demonstrates your technical skills and your commitment to achieving excellence.

If applicable, share your experience with different distributed storage systems, detailing your role in implementing or managing them. Discuss the challenges you faced and how you effectively addressed them to enhance system reliability and performance.