Senior AI Software Development Engineer

Intel Corporation; Folsom (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 276,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock bonuses

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Vacation

Job summary

Intel Corporation is seeking a Senior AI Systems Software Engineer to accelerate AI inference on Intel GPUs and shape optimization across the software stack. You will lead performance improvements for LLMs, Generative AI, and related workloads, collaborating across hardware, compilers, runtimes, and AI frameworks.

This role offers a hybrid on‑site/off‑site work model in the United States. You’ll mentor engineers, influence product direction, and drive end‑to‑end optimization from kernels to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CS/CE/EE or related field with 5+ years of exp, or higher degrees with fewer years.
• Experience in software development, AI systems, or performance engineering.
• C++ development and debugging; performance analysis and optimization.

Responsibilities

• Lead optimization initiatives for AI inference workloads on Intel GPUs.
• Define performance strategies across compilers, runtimes, and GPU kernels.
• Architect software solutions for scalability and efficiency.
• Profile and benchmark complex AI workloads to identify bottlenecks.
• Influence hardware-software co-design through workload analysis.
• Drive cross-functional technical initiatives across architecture, compiler, framework, and runtime teams.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across projects.

Skills

C++ development

Performance profiling

Neural nets

AI systems

Education

Bachelor's in CS/CE/EE

Master's in related field

PhD in related field

Tools

CUDA

HIP

OpenVINO

PyTorch

TensorRT

ONNX Runtime

Job description

Why Join Us

Join a team shaping the future of AI on Intel platforms. You will work on cutting‑edge technologies that accelerate Large Language Models, Generative AI, and other advanced AI workloads on next‑generation Intel GPUs. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with experts across hardware architecture, compilers, runtime systems, and AI frameworks while developing skills that span the full AI software stack. Your work will have direct impact on delivering industry‑leading AI performance and enabling the next generation of AI applications.

Role Overview

Intel is seeking a Senior AI Systems Software Engineer to drive optimization strategy and technical leadership across the AI software stack. In this role, you will lead the development of high‑performance software solutions that accelerate AI inference workloads, including Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative AI, and emerging machine learning applications on Intel GPU platforms. You will work across software, compilers, runtimes, frameworks, and hardware architecture teams to deliver breakthrough AI performance and influence future product direction.

What You’ll Do

• Lead optimization initiatives for AI inference workloads on Intel GPUs.
• Define and drive performance optimization strategies across compilers, runtimes, and GPU kernels.
• Architect software solutions that improve scalability, efficiency, and performance.
• Profile, benchmark, and analyze complex AI workloads to identify system bottlenecks.
• Influence hardware and software co‑design decisions through performance characterization and workload analysis.
• Drive cross‑functional technical initiatives spanning architecture, compiler, framework, and runtime teams.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across projects.
• Evaluate emerging AI technologies and identify future optimization opportunities.

Behavioral Traits

Demonstrates exceptional technical judgment and the ability to solve complex, high‑impact challenges. Thinks strategically across the software and hardware stack, identifying opportunities to improve performance, scalability, and efficiency. Leads through influence, building alignment and driving outcomes across cross‑functional organizations. Communicates effectively with both technical and business audiences, translating complex concepts into actionable insights. Operates with a strong sense of ownership and accountability, driving initiatives from strategy through execution. Uses data, experimentation, and measurable results to inform decisions and guide technical direction. Develops and elevates talent through mentorship, collaboration, and technical leadership. Brings an innovation mindset and a passion for advancing the future of AI computing.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field with 5+ years of experience. Or a Master’s degree in the same field with 3+ years of experience or a PhD in the same field with 1+ year of experience.

• Experience in software development, AI systems, or performance engineering.
• C++ software development and debugging.
• Experience with performance analysis, profiling, and optimization of compute‑intensive applications.
• Experience with modern neural network architectures and their execution on hardware accelerators.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• GPU architectures, AI accelerators, or parallel computing systems.
• Experience optimizing end‑to‑end AI inference workloads in production environments.
• Familiarity with AI inference frameworks such as llama.cpp, vLLM, OpenVINO, PyTorch, TensorRT, ONNX Runtime, or similar technologies.
• Experience with graph compilation and optimization technologies such as MLIR, LLVM, TVM, XLA, or related compiler frameworks.
• Experience with GPU programming models such as Vulkan Compute, OpenCL, SYCL, CUDA, HIP or equivalent technologies.
• Knowledge of neural network optimization techniques, quantization, kernel fusion, memory optimization, and performance tradeoffs.
• Experience across multiple layers of the AI software stack, including:
  • AI inference runtimes and serving frameworks
  • Graph compilers and optimization frameworks
  • GPU kernels and performance‑critical compute code
• Experience contributing to open‑source software projects is a plus.

Why Join Intel

You’ll help shape the future of AI computing by solving some of the industry's most challenging performance problems. Working alongside leading experts in AI, GPU architecture, compilers, and systems software, you’ll have the opportunity to influence next‑generation technologies that power AI at scale.

Job Type

Experienced Hire

Shift

Shift1 (United States of America)

Primary Location

US, California, Folsom

Additional Locations

• US, California, Santa Clara
• US, Oregon, Hillsboro

Posting Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.

Position of Trust

N/A

Benefits

We offer a total compensation package that ranks among the best in the industry. It consists of competitive pay, stock bonuses, and benefit programs which include health, retirement, and vacation. Find out more about the benefits of working at Intel.

Annual Salary Range for jobs which could be performed in the US: $149,750.00-275,580.00USD. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific compensation range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Work Model for this Role

This role will be eligible for our hybrid work model which allows employees to split their time between working on‑site at their assigned Intel site and off‑site.

• Job posting details (such as work model, location or time type) are subject to change.
• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Intel is committed to Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) compliance and ethical hiring practices. We do not charge any fees during our hiring process. Candidates should never be required to pay recruitment fees, medical examination fees, or any other charges as a condition of employment. If you are asked to pay any fees during our hiring process, please report this immediately to your recruiter.

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