Sr Staff Engineer

Lattice Semiconductor Corp; Nellis Air Force Base Census-Designated Place (NV); On-site; USD 199,000 - 243,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity compensation

Healthcare and retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

Lattice Semiconductor Corp is seeking a Sr. Staff Engineer to join our AI/ML team.

You will train, fine-tune, and evaluate ML models, optimize for local inference, and deploy on-prem or at the edge, leveraging frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorRT, ONNX, vLLM, or llama.cpp. Collaborate with software and infra teams to deliver end-to-end AI solutions, document architectures, ensure security and compliance, and mentor engineers.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent practical experience in AI/ML.
• 8+ years in AI/ML with LLMs, code generation, or large-scale neural networks.
• Hands-on experience with LLMs and open-weight models.
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks (PyTorch/TensorFlow).
• Experience deploying models in local/on-prem/restricted environments.

Responsibilities

• Train, fine-tune, and evaluate ML models including LLMs.
• Optimize models for local inference via quantization/pruning/distillation.
• Deploy models on-prem or at the edge using PyTorch/TensorRT/ONNX/vLLM/llama.cpp.
• Build and maintain training/inference pipelines for reproducibility and scalability.
• Integrate locally deployed models into production systems via APIs.
• Monitor model performance, latency, and resource usage in production.
• Collaborate with software/infrastructure/domain experts for end-to-end AI solutions.
• Ensure security, privacy, and compliance in restricted/offline environments.
• Document model architectures, training procedures, and deployment workflows.

Skills

Python

LLMs

Multi-agent AI

Model optimization

KPIs definition

AI deployment

Security & privacy

Education

PhD or MS in CS/Engineering

8+ years AI/ML experience

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

ONNX

Docker

FAISS/Weaviate/Pinecone

Llama.cpp

LangGraph/CrewAI

Job description

Job Description

We are looking for a Sr. Staff Engineer to join our team.

Key Responsibilities

• Train, fine-tune, and evaluate machine learning models, including LLMs, using techniques such as supervised fine-tuning (SFT), LoRA/QLoRA, and RLHF.
• Optimize models for local inference through quantization, pruning, and distillation.
• Deploy models on-prem or at the edge using frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorRT, ONNX, vLLM, or llama.cpp.
• Build and maintain training and inference pipelines for reproducibility and scalability.
• Integrate locally deployed models into production systems via APIs and internal services.
• Monitor model performance, drift, latency, and resource utilization in production.
• Collaborate with software engineers, infrastructure teams, and domain experts to deliver end-to-end AI solutions.
• Ensure models meet security, privacy, and compliance requirements, especially in restricted or offline environments.
• Document model architectures, training procedures, and deployment workflows.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in computer science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of experience in AI and machine learning, with at least 3 years of experience working on LLMs, code generation, large-scale neural networks, RAG, or AI-powered automation.
• Hands-on experience with LLMs (e.g., GPT-OSS, Nemotron, Kimi, Qwen, LLaMA, Mistral, Falcon, or similar open-weight models).
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Expertise in vector databases (FAISS, Weaviate, Chroma, Pinecone, Milvus) and retrieval models Experience deploying models in local, on-prem, or resource constrained environments.
• Experience with multi-agent AI systems (LangGraph, CrewAI, AutgoGen, OpenAI Assistants API) for autonomous coding tasks.
• Hands-on model development, working with business stakeholders to define KPIs and develop and deliver multi-modal (Text and Images) and ensemble models.
• Solid understanding of model optimization techniques (quantization, batching, memory optimization).
• Familiarity with Linux, containers (Docker), and basic cloud/on-prem infrastructure concepts.

Research & Innovation

• Continuous Learning: Commitment to stay updated with the latest research and advancements in AI and machine learning.
• Innovation: Ability to think creatively and propose innovative solutions to complex problems.

Soft Skills

• Mentoring: Act as mentor/guide to a small set of engineers.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing technologies and project requirements.
• Team Player: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a team environment.

Pay & Benefits

Consistent with Lattice Semiconductor values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. We have a market-based pay structure which varies by location. Please note that the base pay range is a guideline, and our compensation range reflects the cost of labor in the U.S. geographic market based on the location of the role. Pay within these ranges varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and relevant work experience. For candidates who receive and offer, the starting salary will vary based on various factors including, but not limited to, such qualifications as, skill level, competencies, and work location. The range provided may represent a candidate range and may not reflect the full range for an individual tenured employee.

Base Pay Range 220800

• In addition to base pay, this role may be eligible for variable/ incentive compensation and/ or equity.
• In addition, this role is eligible for a comprehensive, competitive benefits package which may include healthcare and retirement plans, paid time off, and more!

Additional Information

This position requires a successful background and reference checks and satisfactory proof of your right to work in the United States.

Lattice recognizes that employees are its greatest asset and the driving force behind success in a highly competitive, global industry. Lattice continually strives to provide a comprehensive compensation and benefits program to attract, retain, motivate, reward and celebrate the highest caliber employees in the industry.

As an E-Verify employer, we use this system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires in accordance with federal law. All applicants will be required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, upon hire. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job candidates and will comply with all E-Verify regulations.

Our core values

• GROWTH: We foster a culture where everyone strives for continuous learning and development. We challenge ourselves to boldly deliver exceptional growth and value for customers and shareholders.
• RELIABILITY: Our customers trust us to deliver, and we take that responsibility seriously. By committing ourselves to dependable supply, support, and solutions, we build strong collaboration that lasts and thrives.
• EXECUTION: Innovation turns great ideas into results. Together, we create differentiated products and solutions through disciplined planning, decisiveness, and timely delivery with uncompromising quality.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: We own our actions and outcomes: holding ourselves to the highest standards, agilely adapting to change, delivering on our commitments, and empowering each other to drive our success.
• TRANSPARENCY: Openness builds trust. We lead with integrity and candor, facing hard facts and embracing tough conversations with clear communication, decisive action, and open honesty at every level.

Company Overview

Lattice is a worldwide community of engineers, designers, and manufacturing operations specialists in partnership with world-class sales, marketing, and support teams, who are developing programmable logic solutions that are changing the industry. Our focus is on R&D, product innovation, and customer service, and to that focus, we bring total commitment and a keenly sharp competitive personality. Energy feeds on energy. If you flourish in a fast paced, results-oriented environment, if you want to achieve individual success within a “team first” organization, and if you believe you can contribute and succeed in a demanding yet collegial atmosphere, then Lattice may well be just what you’re looking for.

Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC) is the low power programmable leader. For over 40 years, Lattice has driven innovation in the semiconductor industry. Our compact, power-efficient field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are essential to building a secure, intelligent, and connected world. Lattice is the #1 supplier of small FPGAs worldwide, with the largest installed base in the industry. Our solutions are trusted by over 11,000 customers globally, spanning the compute, communications, industrial, and embedded markets. Founded in 1983 in Oregon’s Silicon Forest, Lattice has grown into a global leader with a passionate team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of programmable logic and fostering a culture of innovation.

Headquartered in Portland, Oregon with major operations in San Jose, California, Shanghai, China, and Manilla, Philippines.