Staff AI Kernel Engineer

quadric; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Equity

Discretionary annual bonus

401(k) Retirement Plan

Flexible PTO

Downtown Burlingame office location

Job summary

Quadric is redefining edge AI with a GPNPU and seeks an AI Kernel Engineer to develop efficient AI kernels and a production-grade kernel library. You will profile performance across hardware, optimize data flow, and drive kernel programming in C/C++ and Python.

The role sits on the SDK Team in Burlingame, with opportunities for impact across edge devices and real-time workloads. A base salary is offered along with equity and a discretionary bonus.

Qualifications

• 3–8 years of hands-on AI kernel development and performance optimization.
• Proficiency in C/C++ and Python.
• Experience with compute development in CUDA, DSP, NEON, or Triton-lang.
• Proven track record in model and kernel inference performance profiling.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in CS, EE, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop highly efficient AI and LLM kernels/operators on the Quadric platform for performant neural network inference.
• Build out a robust, production-grade Quadric kernel library to support a variety of cutting-edge AI architectures.
• Drive kernel programming using C/C++ and Python.
• Profile performance across hardware configurations and optimize data flow and compute efficiency.

Skills

AI kernel development

Performance optimization

C/C++ programming

Python programming

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

CUDA

DSP

NEON

Triton-lang

Job description

Quadric is redefining edge AI with the industry’s first General Purpose Neural Processing Unit (GPNPU), enabling developers to run both neural network inference and conventional C++ code on a single programmable architecture. Our technology powers intelligent edge devices across automotive, industrial, robotics, and embedded systems.

Founded in 2016 and based in downtown Burlingame, California, Quadric is building the world’s first supercomputer designed for the real-time needs of edge devices. Quadric aims to empower developers in every industry with superpowers to create tomorrow’s technology, today. The company was co-founded by technologists from MIT and Carnegie Mellon, who were previously the technical co-founders of the Bitcoin computing company 21.

The Opportunity

Quadric has created an innovative General-Purpose Neural Processing Unit (GPNPU) architecture. Unlike standard NPUs or neural network accelerators that only accelerate a portion of a machine learning graph, Quadric’s GPNPU executes both NN graph code and conventional C++ DSP and control code across edge and endpoint devices.

As a AI Kernel Engineer on the SDK Team, you will play a central role in enabling a massive suite of AI/LLM kernels and operators to run efficiently on the Quadric platform. You will build out the core Quadric kernel library, profile performance across varied hardware configurations, and leverage deep knowledge of hardware architecture, compiler toolchains, and optimization techniques to drive maximum hardware utilization.

What You’ll Do

AI/LLM Kernel Development & Platform Library

• Develop highly efficient AI and LLM kernels/operators on the Quadric platform for performant neural network inference.
• Build out a robust, production-grade Quadric kernel library to support a variety of cutting-edge AI architectures.
• Drive kernel programming using C/C++ and Python.

Performance Optimization & Profiling

• Optimize kernel performance across different hardware configurations and workloads to achieve maximum hardware utilization.
• Profile and analyze kernel performance in terms of compute throughput, data movement, and parallel execution.
• Identify micro-architecture and software bottlenecks and engineer high-performance optimization solutions.

What Success Looks Like

Within your first 6–12 months, you’ll:

• Expand and mature the Quadric core kernel library, enabling seamless execution for critical AI/LLM inference workloads.
• Eliminate execution bottlenecks across hardware variants by tuning kernel data flow and compute efficiency.
• Establish benchmark-proven performance standards and optimization patterns for target SDK customer environments.

What We’re Looking For

Required

• 3-8 years of hands‑on experience in AI kernel development and performance optimization.
• Proficiency in C/C++ and Python.
• Direct experience with compute development in at least one of the following: CUDA, DSP, NEON, or Triton‑lang.
• Proven track record in model and kernel inference performance profiling.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

Preferred

• Background in assembly language programming.
• Experience from target NPU/semiconductor environments
• Strong capability in structured problem-solving, debugging, and technical communication

What We Offer

The base salary range for this position is $170,000 to $230,000. This range reflects the full span of levels and geographies at which Quadric hires for this role. The actual base salary offered will depend on a number of factors, including the specific level of the role, years and depth of relevant experience, technical skills and competencies, the criticality of the role to the business, internal equity, and work location. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for equity and a discretionary annual performance bonus as applicable to the role and level.

Quadric also offer a variety of benefits to support your needs. The benefits below reflect our US-based offerings; for roles in other locations, benefits vary and are shared during the hiring process. These include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance from day one - Premiums covered at 99% for Employees
• Company-paid life Insurance
• Voluntary supplemental life insurance
• STD + LTD insurance
• Commuter support including parking or Caltrain reimbursement. Our office is conveniently located within walking distance of the Caltrain station
• FSA + HSA
• Equity with the business
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Flexible PTO
• Winter holiday shutdown
• Catered lunch each day in our office
• Downtown Burlingame office location, close to shops, cafes, and local amenities
• Collaborative, low-ego culture with significant ownership and impact
• A work culture focused on innovative disruption

Equal Employment Opportunity

Quadric is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law

E-Verify and Right to Work Notices

Quadric participates in the E-Verify program to confirm employment eligibility for U.S.-based roles. As part of this process, applicants may review the following notices, which explain your rights and our participation in E-Verify. These notices are provided in English and Spanish.

• E-Verify Participation Notice (English | Spanish)
• Right to Work Notice (English | Spanish)

No action is required from candidates during the application process. These notices are provided for informational purposes only.

Privacy

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