AI Performance Engineer (Cloud AI Engineering), Sr. Staff

Nuvia

Nuvia

Software Engineering, Data Science
San Diego, CA, USA
USD 178,400-267,600 / year + Equity
Posted on Sep 30, 2025

Job Description

Job Posting Date

2025-09-29


Company:

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area:

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Machine Learning Engineering

General Summary:

AI Performance Engineer (Cloud AI Engineering)

Qualcomm is utilizing its traditional strengths in digital wireless technologies to play a central role in the evolution of Cloud AI. We are investing in several supporting technologies including Deep Learning. The Qualcomm Cloud AI team is developing hardware and software solutions for Inference Acceleration.

We are hiring an AI Performance Engineers at multiple levels to join our dynamic, collaborative team. This role spans the full product lifecycle—from cutting-edge research and development to commercial deployment—and demands strategic thinking, strong execution, and excellent communication skills.

This role involves the following activities:

  • Convert, optimize and deploy models for efficient inference using PyTorch, ONNX.

  • Work at the forefront of GenAI by understanding advanced algorithms (e.g. attention mechanisms, MoEs) and numerics to identify new optimization opportunities.

  • Performance analysis and optimization of LLM, VLM, and diffusion models for inference. Scale performance for throughput and latency constraints.

  • Mapping the next generation AI workloads on top of current and future hardware designs.

  • Work closely with customers to drive solutions by collaborating with internal compiler, firmware and platform teams.

  • Analyze complex performance or stability issues to work towards final root cause of underlying problems.

  • Create engineering solutions to deliver continuous insights into performance of AI workloads guiding the improvements over time.

  • Design and implement high-level kernels, e.g. in Triton, with a focus on generating efficient, low-level code.

Candidates for this position will demonstrate the following:

  • Hands-on experience in building and optimizing language models, notably in PyTorch, ONNX, preferably in production-grade environments.

  • Deep understanding of transformer architectures, attention mechanisms and performance trade-offs.

  • Experience in workload mapping strategies exhibiting sharding or various parallelisms.

  • Strong Python programming skills.

  • Proactive learning about the latest inference optimization techniques.

  • Understanding of computer architecture, ML accelerators, in-memory processing and distributed systems.

  • Strong communication, problem-solving skills and ability to learn and work effectively in a fast-paced and collaborative environment.

  • MS in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering.

Bonus Skills:

  • Background in neural network operators and mathematical operations, including linear algebra and math libraries.

  • Understanding of machine learning compilers.

  • Experience in converging accuracy and its evaluation methods.

  • Knowledge of torch.compile or torchDynamo.

  • PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or Machine Learning

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 6+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 5+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 4+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.

Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).

To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.

EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.

Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.

Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:

$178,400.00 - $267,600.00

The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.