Software Engineer, On-Device AI

Nothing; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 164,000 - 248,000; Full time

Job summary

Nothing is seeking a senior systems engineer to design and implement core platform services for on-device AI capabilities. You will own architectures, APIs and performance trade-offs across devices from wearables to phones, balancing latency, power and security.

You’ll work with software, model and hardware engineers in a hybrid SF setting, with occasional remote work allowed. A strong background in Rust, Python or JavaScript helps you move fast.

Qualifications

• You've owned complex systems work, from architecture to hands-on implementation and debugging
• Strong systems fundamentals: concurrency, resource management, API design and performance trade-offs
• Experience with on-device inference, inference runtimes, device software or another resource-constrained platform. Or proof that you learn fast across all of them
• You make progress without a spec, explain trade-offs clearly and change course when the data says so
• You question familiar architectures instead of copying them
• Strong programming skills and the range to use what the problem needs. E.g. Rust, Python and JavaScript

Responsibilities

• Build core system services, abstractions and APIs for a platform others can build on
• Have small models running reliably on real hardware: memory, scheduling and resource management, all inside tight latency, battery and thermal budgets
• Connect model capabilities to the platform and app layers, so they finish real tasks end to end
• Decide what runs where: wearable, phone, computer or cloud, based on the task, privacy and the hardware on hand
• Prototype fast, profile on real hardware across CPUs, GPUs and NPUs, and ship what works
• Work side by side with software, model and hardware engineers

Skills

System architecture

Concurrency

Resource management

API design

On-device inference

Rust

Python

JavaScript

Job description

About Nothing

Nothing exists to make tech feel exciting again.

We’re building a different kind of technology company, one that puts design, emotion, and human creativity at the heart of everything we do. From the way our products look and feel to how we communicate and show up in culture, we believe technology should make you feel something.

Founded in London in 2020, we’ve grown from idea to global challenger in just a few years. Backed by GV (Google Ventures), EQT Ventures, and C Ventures, and investors like Tony Fadell (iPod), Casey Neistat, and Kevin Lin (Twitch), we’re now sold in 40+ markets with millions of users worldwide.

About the team

AI should run on the devices you carry, work across all of them, and actually get things done. That's a hard problem, and we're solving it from the operating system up.

You'll build the foundations that make this work: the system services that keep small models running reliably on real hardware, and the APIs that connect them to everything else. The problems are open. The hardware is real. You'll own them end to end.

Skills & Qualification

• You've owned complex systems work, from architecture to hands-on implementation and debugging

• Strong systems fundamentals: concurrency, resource management, API design and performance trade-offs

• Experience with on-device inference, inference runtimes, device software or another resource-constrained platform. Or proof that you learn fast across all of them

• You make progress without a spec, explain trade-offs clearly and change course when the data says so

• You question familiar architectures instead of copying them

• Strong programming skills and the range to use what the problem needs. E.g. Rust, Python and JavaScript

Responsibilities

• Build core system services, abstractions and APIs for a platform others can build on

• Have small models running reliably on real hardware: memory, scheduling and resource management, all inside tight latency, battery and thermal budgets

• Connect model capabilities to the platform and app layers, so they finish real tasks end to end

• Decide what runs where: wearable, phone, computer or cloud, based on the task, privacy and the hardware on hand

• Prototype fast, profile on real hardware across CPUs, GPUs and NPUs, and ship what works

• Work side by side with software, model and hardware engineers

How we work

• Location: San Francisco, we are open to remote for the right person, with regular time in person with our SF team.

Nothing offers excellent benefits and competitive compensation packages. The base salary pay range for this role is $164,000 - 248,000 USD. Qurrent is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to inclusion, diversity, and equity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veterans’ status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.