Principal AI Performance Engineer
Originally posted 9 October 2026 by the employer.
About the role
This role defines how Graphcore analyzes and optimizes AI training and inference workloads at data center scale. The position involves guiding distributed communication strategy and reviewing critical C++ and Python tools for performance.
What you'll do
- Define how Graphcore analyzes and optimizes AI training and inference workloads.
- Lead performance investigations from model behavior to multi-node scaling.
- Turn profiling, benchmarking, and modeling evidence into technical roadmaps and engineering priorities.
- Set measurement standards and guide distributed communication strategy.
- Review critical C++ and Python tools.
What you'll need
- Deep experience profiling and optimizing AI, machine learning, or high-performance computing workloads at scale.
- Proven technical leadership across complex performance-engineering or system-architecture initiatives.
- Expert C++ and Python skills, including reliable tools or performance-sensitive software.
- Expert understanding of compute, memory, communication, and scaling behavior in distributed systems.
- Ability to define benchmarks, measurement practices, or optimization standards across teams.
Skills: AI training, inference workloads, distributed systems, performance optimization, C++, Python
More semiconductor jobs: Graphcore jobs · Austin jobs
This role has been open 25 days — well below the 54-day median for Infrastructure/Platform Software roles.
Infrastructure/Platform Software · Infrastructure Platform
|
Open roles in category
998
|
Median days open
54 d
|
Category median salary (all employers)
$236k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Graphcore | All employers we track in this specialty (998 roles · 90 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 48 | 998 |
| Open roles in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family | 107 | 6338 · 145 employers |
| Median days open | 96 d | 54 d (+42 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $236k |
Skills observed across this category: AI training, inference workloads, distributed systems, performance optimization, C++, Python
Who's hiring in this category
- NVIDIA · 305 open roles · median 57 d
- Qualcomm · 58 open roles · median 56 d
- AMD · 48 open roles · median 33 d
- Graphcore (this employer) · 48 open roles · median 96 d
- Intel Corporation · 45 open roles · median 19 d
- Arm Holdings · 37 open roles · median 6 d
How we counted: 998 open Infrastructure/Platform Software (Infrastructure Platform) roles from 90 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 3 Nov 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family row. Figures refresh nightly.