Principal Engineer, AI Compiler

Tenstorrent; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 140,000 - 702,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology innovator in AI is seeking a Compiler Development Lead in Toronto, ON to manage the development of their MLIR-based compiler. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in building compilers, fluency in C++ and Python, and deep knowledge of frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow. The compensation ranges from $100k to $500k, depending on experience and location.

Benefits

Highly competitive compensation package

Benefits including equal opportunity employment

Qualifications

• Extensive experience building compilers or similar systems.
• Strong knowledge of MLIR, LLVM, or related infrastructure.
• Experience with modern AI frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead development on the MLIR-based compiler TT-Forge.
• Drive compiler development across multiple layers.
• Technical ownership of roadmap priorities and mentorship.

Skills

C++

Python

MLIR

LLVM

PyTorch

TensorFlow

JAX

Job description

Tenstorrent is leading the industry on cutting-edge AI technology, revolutionizing performance expectations, ease of use, and cost efficiency. With AI redefining the computing paradigm, solutions must evolve to unify innovations in software models, compilers, platforms, networking, and semiconductors. Our diverse team of technologists have developed a high performance RISC-V CPU from scratch, and share a passion for AI and a deep desire to build the best AI platform possible. We value collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to solving hard problems. We are growing our team and looking for contributors of all seniorities.

Join the team revolutionizing AI computing at Tenstorrent. In this role you will lead development on TT-Forge, our MLIR-based compiler, and manage a team focused on scaling graph transformations, lowering passes, and kernel-level optimizations. You’ll help shape the future of AI computing through compiler technology that is fast, flexible, and built for real-world models.

This role ishybrid, based out of Toronto, ON.

We welcome candidates at various experience levels for this role. During the interview process, candidates will be assessed for the appropriate level, and offers will align with that level, which may differ from the one in this posting.

Who You Are

• Extensive experience building compilers or similar systems, with strong fluency in C++ and Python.
• Strong knoweledge of MLIR, LLVM, or related infrastructure, with hands-on work in dialect design or optimization passes.
• You have a strong understanding of modern AI frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX, including how models are transformed and executed.
• A background in working across teams to ship reliable, scalable tools in fast-paced engineering environments.

What We Need

• Leadership to drive compiler development across multiple layers of the stack, including custom dialects, transformation passes, and runtime integration.
• Alignment with hardware, software, and ML teams to ensure the compiler supports realistic performance and deployment needs.
• Technical ownership of roadmap priorities, planning, and mentorship for a high-performing engineering team.
• Insight to identify bottlenecks, debug performance issues, and improve developer workflows across the stack.

What You Will Learn

• How to build compiler infrastructure that supports both training and inference at scale across custom chip architectures.
• New approaches for human-in-the-loop optimization using TT-Explorer and other internal tooling.
• Best practices for evolving MLIR dialects like TTIR, TTNN, and TTKernel to support next-generation AI workloads.
• How Tenstorrent delivers open, performant, and developer-friendly AI infrastructure that scales with industry demands.

Compensation for all engineers at Tenstorrent ranges from $100k - $500k including base and variable compensation targets. Experience, skills, education, background and location all impact the actual offer made.

Tenstorrent offers a highly competitive compensation package and benefits, and we are an equal opportunity employer.

This offer of employment is contingent upon the applicant being eligible to access U.S. export-controlled technology. Due to U.S. export laws, including those codified in the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the Company is required to ensure compliance with these laws when transferring technology to nationals of certain countries (such as EAR Country Groups D:1, E1, and E2). These requirements apply to persons located in the U.S. and all countries outside the U.S. As the position offered will have direct and/or indirect access to information, systems, or technologies subject to these laws, the offer may be contingent upon your citizenship/permanent residency status or ability to obtain prior license approval from the U.S. Commerce Department or applicable federal agency. If employment is not possible due to U.S. export laws, any offer of employment will be rescinded.