CoDesign & NextGen Performance Engineer

Cerebras Systems, Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Cerebras Systems is seeking a performance-focused engineer to characterize, analyze, and optimize AI model performance running on Cerebras’ Wafer Scale Engine. You will work across hardware and software stacks to identify bottlenecks and improve efficiency.

Collaborate with hardware and software teams to influence next-generation architecture and tooling. Prior experience with performance profiling, kernel optimization, and C++/Python is valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor/Master/PhD in EE or CS with strong computer architecture background.
• Exposure to low-level DL / LLM math.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset.
• 3+ years in Computer Architecture, CPU/GPU Performance, Kernel Optimization, HPC.
• Experience working on CPU/GPU simulators.
• Exposure to performance profiling and debugging on any system pipeline.
• Comfort with C++ and Python.

Responsibilities

• Bring up and optimize performance on new generations of the Cerebras WSE.
• Build performance models (kernel-level, end-to-end) to estimate performance of state‑of‑the‑art models.
• Optimize and debug kernel micro code and compiler algorithms to improve inference speed and utilization.
• Debug and understand runtime performance on the system and cluster.
• Develop tools to visualize performance data from the Wafer Scale Engine and compute cluster.

Skills

Computer architecture

Low-level DL / LLM math

Analytical thinking

3+ years in CPU/GPU perf / kernel HPC

CPU/GPU simulators

Performance profiling & debugging

C++ & Python

Education

Bachelors / Masters / PhD in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

CPU/GPU simulators

Job description

Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, 56 times larger than GPUs. This architecture allows Cerebras to deliver industry-leading training and inference speeds; over 10 times faster than GPU-based hyperscale cloud inference services.

This order of magnitude increase in speed is transforming the user experience of AI applications, unlocking real-time iteration and increasing intelligence via additional agentic computation.

Cerebras works with the leading model labs, global enterprises, and cutting-edge AI-native startups. OpenAI recently announced a multi-year partnership with Cerebras, to deploy 750 megawatts of scale, transforming key workloads with ultra high-speed inference.

About The Role

This role focuses on characterizing, analyzing, and optimizing the performance of state‑of‑the‑art AI models running on Cerebras’ breakthrough hardware. You will work across the hardware and software stack to identify bottlenecks, improve computational efficiency, and help influence the design of Cerebras’ next‑generation AI architecture and software systems.

Responsibilities

• Bring up and optimize performance on new generations of the Cerebras WSE.
• Build performance models (kernel‑level, end‑to‑end) to estimate the performance of state‑of‑the‑art and customer ML models.
• Optimize and debug our kernel micro code and compiler algorithms to elevate ML model inference speed, throughput and compute utilization on the Cerebras WSE.
• Debug and understand runtime performance on the system and cluster.
• Develop tools and infrastructure to help visualize performance data collected from the Wafer Scale Engine and our compute cluster.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelors / Masters / PhD in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science. Strong background in computer architecture.
• Exposure to and understanding of low‑level deep learning / LLM math.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving mindset.
• 3+ years of experience in a relevant domain (Computer Architecture, CPU/GPU Performance, Kernel Optimization, HPC).
• Experience working on CPU/GPU simulators.
• Exposure to performance profiling and debug on any system pipeline.
• Comfort with C++ and Python.

Why Join Cerebras

People who are serious about software make their own hardware. At Cerebras, we have built a breakthrough architecture that is unlocking new opportunities for the AI industry. With dozens of model releases and rapid growth, we’ve reached an inflection point in our business. Members of our team tell us there are five main reasons they joined Cerebras:

1. Build a breakthrough AI platform beyond the constraints of the GPU.
2. Publish and open source their cutting‑edge AI research.
3. Work on one of the fastest AI supercomputers in the world.
4. Enjoy job stability with startup vitality.
5. Our simple, non‑corporate work culture that respects individual beliefs.

Cerebras Systems is committed to creating an equal and diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe inclusive teams build better products and companies. We try every day to build a work environment that empowers people to do their best work through continuous learning, growth and support of those around them.