Exelixis

AI and Agentic Engineer I

Exelixis$129K — $182K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field with 1-3 years of related experience.
  • Up to 2 years of hands-on experience in AI applications or automation.
  • Familiarity with LLMs, prompt engineering, and AI development concepts.
  • Basic understanding of CI/CD pipelines and testing methodologies.
  • Strong communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.
  • Ability to learn quickly and pay attention to security and compliance detail.
  • Preferred experience with AWS Cloud and AI-native engineering tools.

Responsibilities

  • Build pilot AI applications and workflows based on senior engineers' guidance.
  • Rapidly prototype using vibe-coding techniques and develop maintainable code.
  • Automate IT/business tasks by integrating LLMs, prompts, tools, and APIs.
  • Utilize modern developer tools to speed up project delivery.
  • Manage CI/CD tasks for code quality and testing automation.
  • Create technical documentation and operational guides for users.
  • Engage in prompt/spec reviews and pre-release testing activities.

Benefits

  • 401k plan with generous company contributions.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Life and disability insurance, plus flexible spending accounts.
  • Annual bonus eligibility or sales-based incentive plans.
  • Opportunity to purchase company stock and receive long-term incentives.
  • 15 vacation days in the first year and 17 paid holidays.
  • Modern office environment and ergonomic workspace provisions.
Full Job Description
SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE

The Engineer I -AI and Agentic supports Exelixis' AI initiatives by prototyping, building, and deploying agent-based applications that accelerate enterprise IT and business workflows. This role turns early ideas into spec-driven, testable, production-ready solutions using modern AI-assisted development tools while adhering to Exelixis' security, compliance, and responsible AI standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Build pilot AI applications and agentic workflows under the direction of senior engineers, translating ideas into working prototypes.
  • Prototype rapidly using vibe-coding techniques, then evolve prototypes into maintainable code through clear specifications, structured prompts, tests, modular design, and error handling.
  • Develop agents that automate multi-step IT and business tasks by connecting LLMs, prompts, tools, and APIs into practical use cases.
  • Use coding agents and modern developer tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Codex) to accelerate delivery.
  • Execute CI/CD pipeline tasks for automated testing, build validation gates, and artifact versioning.
  • Write documentation and runbooks, including architecture notes, setup instructions, operational SOPs, and end-user guidance.
  • Participate in prompt/spec reviews, code reviews, and pre-release testing/validation activities.
  • Apply secure-by-design and responsible AI principles, including data handling, privacy, and safe prompting practices aligned to Exelixis policy
  • Performs other duties as assigned
  • Complies with all policies and standards


SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
  • No supervisory responsibilities.


EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS & ABILITIES

Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related field and 3 years of related experience; or
  • Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related field and 1 year or related experience; or
  • Equivalent combination of education and experience.


Experience
  • Up to 2 years of relevant experience in AI application, data science, automation, or related technical work, including hands-on experience building or contributing to LLM-enabled applications, agentic workflows, API integrations,


Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required:
  • General exposure to LLMs, prompt engineering, agent frameworks, or AI application development through coursework or projects.
  • General understanding of agentic development concepts: tool use, planning/execution loops, guardrails, prompt/version management and context engineering.
  • General familiarity with automated testing (unit/integration), linting, and CI pipelines.
  • General communication skills, written and verbal to collaborate with cross-functional teammates.
  • Demonstrated ability to learn new tools quickly, bias for action, and attention to detail regarding security, privacy, and compliance.
  • General familiarity with REST APIs, Git, and software development fundamentals
  • Preferred: Exposure to AWS Cloud, AWS Bedrock, Databricks Mosaic AI, or comparable agent frameworks.
  • Preferred: Exposure to AI-native engineering with Claude Code, Codex, GitHub Copilot, or equivalent coding agents.


Preferred:
  • General to Intermediate proficiency in Python and/or JavaScript/TypeScript
  • Familiarity with APIs, Git, and software development basics


Travel Requirements
  • No travel is expected of this position.


#LI-EZ1

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The base pay range for this position is $129,000 - $182,000 annually. The base pay range may take into account the candidate's geographic region, which will adjust the pay depending on the specific work location. The base pay offered will take into account the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors.

In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan. Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long-term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Our office is a modern space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.

DISCLAIMER:
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

About Exelixis

Exelixis is a biotechnology company that develops and commercializes innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer. The company's flagship product, CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib), is an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases, including MET, AXL, and VEGFR, which are involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. CABOMETYX is approved in the United States for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and is also approved in the European Union and other countries for the treatment of advanced RCC. Exelixis is headquartered in Alameda, California, and has additional offices in South San Francisco, California, and Basel, Switzerland. Learn more at www.exelixis.com.
Learn more about Exelixis
Size
954 employees
Market Cap
$5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$111.7 million
5 Year Trend
+49.6%
Revenue
$987.5 million
NASDAQ

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