Senior AI Compiler Engineer

XMOS; Bristol; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

XMOS is seeking a Senior AI Compiler Engineer to lead the development of the LLVM-based toolchain for a new multi-core RISC-V processor, with a focus on enabling AI and ML workloads on XMOS hardware.

You will join the Compilation Tools team in Bristol or UK-based, maintaining the XCORE toolchain and MLIR-based AI compiler, while contributing to the next generation of silicon and tooling for embedded devices.

Qualifications

• Experience with compiler or AI/ML toolchain development.
• Ability to learn and adapt on the job.
• Experience with MLIR, XLA or TFLite is beneficial.
• Interest in AI workloads on embedded multi-core processors.
• 2–3+ years of development in a commercial setting.

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain, and enhance a full Clang/LLVM toolchain for a new multi-core RISC-V processor.
• Maintain and improve XCORE ISA toolchain and bespoke runtime libraries.
• Advance AI Compiler based on MLIR and TensorFlow Lite support.
• Plan and implement next generation of AI compilation offering.
• Perform benchmark-driven optimizations for resource-constrained targets.
• Contribute to silicon and toolchain specifications.

Skills

Embedded systems

Compiler development

AI/ML toolchains

TensorFlow / MLIR / TFLite

Autonomous problem solving

C/C++ development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

Clang/LLVM toolchain

LLD linker

MLIR framework

Job description

Full time, permanent
Location: Ideally Bristol or based in UK.
Reporting to: Software Manager, Compilation Tools

Based in our Bristol office, the Senior AI Compiler Engineer works in the Compilation Tools team and plays a pivotal role in developing and enhancing the LLVM – based toolchain for our novel multi – core processors, with a particular focus on enabling AI and machine learning workloads on XMOS hardware.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working on a variety of tools and target libraries to build , maintain, and enhance a complete toolchain for a new multi – core RISC – V processor . The toolchain consists of a Clang C/C++ compiler, runtime libraries and LLD linker.
• Maintaining and enhancing the currently shipping XCORE ISA toolchain. This includes a traditional compile chain plus bespoke tools and libraries for targeting the unique features of XCORE devices.
• Maintaining the currently shipping AI Compiler. This is an MLIR – based compile chain capable of transforming a Tensorflow Lite model to a representation optimised for execution on XCORE devices, including memory optimisations and use of a bespoke C/C++ runtime.
• Planning and implementation of the next generation of our AI Compilation offering
• Making benchmark – driven tool improvements, particularly optimisation for a resource – constrained target.
• Contributing to the specification of the next generation of silicon and toolchain.

The ideal candidate

You’re a software engineer with either prior experience of compiler or AI/ML toolchain development, or the ability (and strong desire) to learn about it on – the – job.

Key skills and qualifications

Required:

• Deep understanding of tools and libraries used to build software (especially for embedded systems).
• The ability to quickly assimilate complex problems and develop solutions autonomously.
• Compiler development, in particular the back – end, including experience with or interest in AI/ML compiler frameworks such as TensorFlow (XLA, MLIR, or TFLite)
• An interest in working across the full AI stack – from ML framework integration and compiler front – end work through to low – level runtime optimisation and hardware bring – up.
• Minimum of 2 – 3 years of development experience in a commercial setting.

Preferred:

• Reading and writing assembly code.
• Implementing and maintaining runtime libraries for bare – metal targets.
• Knowledge of micro – processor architectures for embedded applications – for example, instruction set composition, pipeline stages, memory hierarchy and cache implementations.
• Hands – on experience with TensorFlow, including working with TFLite, XLA, or MLIR – based compilation pipelines.
• Interest in the future of embedded ML technologies, including LiteRT,
• Performing benchmarking and benchmark – driven optimisation.
• Releasing compiler technology to a user base and supporting internal and/or external users.

At XMOS, we believe that diverse experiences and perspectives drive innovation and success. We know that no one checks every box, and we don’t expect you to. If you’re excited about this role, passionate about what you do, and eager to learn, we want to hear from you —even if you don’t meet every qualification. Your unique background, skills, and potential to grow are just as important as ticking every box. If you believe you could make a valuable contribution to our team, we encourage you to apply.