SW Optimization Engineer AI/ML

Socket.dev; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple is seeking a senior performance engineer to analyze workloads, identify bottlenecks, and drive improvements across Apple Silicon. You will collaborate with hardware and software teams to optimize SoC architecture, and prototype high-performance algorithms for CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine platforms.

The role requires deep knowledge of computer architecture, strong C/C++ and Python skills, and experience with AI/ML frameworks such as PyTorch.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Computer Engineering, CS, or related field.
• Experience in software development for hardware IPs: AI/ML accelerators, GPUs, image/video encoders, or similar.
• Experience with AI/ML, graphics, or HPC performance benchmarks and workloads.
• MS or Ph.D. in CS, CE, EE, or related field preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in software performance optimization.
• Knowledge of computer architecture fundamentals.
• Proficiency in C/C++, and Python.
• Ability to prototype and benchmark algorithms on CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine platforms.
• Proficiency in PyTorch and related AI/ML stacks.
• Knowledge of OS internals and compiler technologies.
• Technical aptitude and collaboration with teams.

Responsibilities

• Analyze existing and new workloads to identify performance bottlenecks in hardware and/or software.
• Provide recommendations for Apple hardware and software improvements.
• Work with developers to address performance limitations and patterns on Apple silicon.
• Offer feedback to silicon and software teams for potential improvements.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Performance analysis

Algorithms

AI/ML frameworks

Education

Bachelor's degree

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

PyTorch

Job description

At Apple, our Platform Architecture group is responsible for connecting our hardware and software into one unified system. You’ll collaborate with engineers across Apple to design how all of our technologies work in unison, drive development of our renowned system-on-a-chip (SoC) architecture, and develop forward-looking prototype systems and software. Our team is driving performance enhancements in application and system software and developing novel algorithms to deliver integrated, highly optimized solutions based on Apple Silicon.

Description

In this role, you will analyze existing and new workloads to identify performance bottlenecks in the hardware and/or software. Working with your colleagues, you'll address performance limitations and provide recommendations for Apple hardware and software improvements. In addition to working directly with developers, you will identify patterns of performance challenges on Apple silicon, emerging new usage models, and provide feedback to the silicon and software teams for potential improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent job-related experience in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Experience in software development for at least one of the following hardware IPs: AI/ML HW accelerators, GPUs processing units, image/video encoders, or similar.
• Experience with AI/ML, graphics, or HPC performance benchmarks and workloads.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in software performance optimization, performance analysis tools, performance optimization process and development of efficient computational algorithms.
• Knowledge of computer architecture fundamentals.
• Proficiency in some of the C/C++ family programming languages, and scripting languages such as Python.
• Ability to prototype and benchmark algorithms on CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine platforms, analyze performance metrics, and create high-level complexity models, or develop targeted highly efficient low-level performance libraries for AI/ML accelerators or GPUs.
• Proficiency in popular AI/ML frameworks, such as PyTorch, and relevant software stacks.
• Knowledge of operating system internals and compiler technologies.
• Technical aptitude and curiosity, as well as ability to collaborate effectively with team members, partners, and stakeholders.