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Software Engineer, Core AI Compiler & Runtime, Pre-Silicon

Tesla
Palo Alto, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 5/25/2026 CLOSED ON 6/7/2026

What are the responsibilities and job description for the Software Engineer, Core AI Compiler & Runtime, Pre-Silicon position at Tesla?

What To Expect
As a Software Engineer within our Autonomy teams, you will contribute to one of the most advanced and widely deployed AI Platforms in the world for Autopilot and our Humanoid Robot, Optimus.

In this role, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining a compiler toolchain to support pre-silicon development, enabling efficient compilation and optimization of neural networks for Tesla's next generation of custom hardware accelerators. You will collaborate closely with AI Engineers, Hardware Engineers, and cross-functional teams to build out the full inference stack, ensuring maximum performance extraction from our hardware through simulation and emulation in pre-silicon environments.

The inference stack development is purpose-driven: deployment and analysis of production models inform the team's direction, and the team's work immediately impacts performance and the ability to deploy more and more complex models. With a cutting-edge co-designed MLIR compiler and runtime architecture, and full control of the hardware, the compiler has access to traditionally unavailable features that can be leveraged via novel compilation approaches to generate higher performance models, even in pre-silicon stages.

What You'll Do

  • Write, debug and maintain robust software for Tesla AI (Compiler / Runtime) focusing on early stages of silicon development
  • Design performance-critical hardware features enabling running inference/training workloads at scale
  • Design new APIs and Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) enabling programmability of next generation hardware architectures
  • Develop backend code generation for new hardware architectures using MLIR/LLVM
  • Analyze and debug functional and performance issues on massively parallel systems


  • What You'll Bring

  • Demonstrated expertise with ML compilers/runtimes (e.g. MLIR, LLVM, XLA, PJRT, TensorRT)
  • Experience with development of Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) like Triton, cuTile, Pallas
  • Robust familiarity with CPUs, GPUs and modern AI accelerators
  • Advanced knowledge of computer architecture, distributed systems, networking, and collectives
  • Proficient C/C programming C/C including modern C/C (C 14/17/20)
  • Basic Python proficiency
  • Familiarity with modern ML architectures
  • Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent in experience and evidence of exceptional ability


  • Benefits
    Compensation and Benefits
    Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:
  • Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
  • Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
  • Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
  • Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
  • Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
  • Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
  • Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
  • Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
  • Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
  • Tesla Babies program
  • Commuter benefits
  • Employee discounts and perks program


  • Expected Compensation

    $160,000 - $435,000/annual salary cash and stock awards benefits

    Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

    , Tesla

    Salary : $160,000 - $435,000

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