AI Model Optimization Engineer

Intel is hiring an AI Model Optimization Engineer in Santa Clara, United States. It pays $150k-$276k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Level.

AI in this role

pytorchtensorflow

ai-research

Job Details:

Job Description:

The Role and Impact

Intel is seeking an AI Model Performance Optimization Engineer to help deliver high-performance AI solutions that enable the next generation of client computing experiences. In this role, you will enable, validate, benchmark, optimize, and debug AI models to ensure they run efficiently and accurately across Intel hardware platforms.

Working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning frameworks, software engineering, and hardware acceleration, you will collaborate with engineers across Intel to improve AI model performance, scalability, and adoption by customers and partners worldwide.

This is an exciting opportunity for engineers passionate about Generative AI, machine learning systems, model optimization, and performance engineering who want to influence technologies used by millions of people globally.

What You Will Do

Key responsibilities will include but not limited to:

Enable, validate, benchmark, and optimize AI models on Intel platforms.
Analyze model performance and identify optimization opportunities.
Debug issues across AI frameworks, software stacks, and hardware platforms.
Develop and execute tests to ensure model functionality, accuracy, and performance.
Collaborate with software, hardware, compiler, and architecture teams to solve technical challenges.
Utilize AI-assisted development tools to improve engineering productivity.
Contribute code, bug fixes, documentation, and test coverage to internal and open-source projects.
Work effectively with globally distributed engineering teams.
Mentor junior engineers and share technical expertise across the team.

Behavioral traits that we are looking for:

Curiosity and Learning Agility: Demonstrates a passion for learning emerging AI technologies, frameworks, and development methodologies.
Problem Solving: Approaches complex technical challenges with structured analysis and creative thinking.
Ownership: Takes initiative, drives issues to resolution, and delivers high-quality results with accountability.
Collaboration: Works effectively across software, hardware, architecture, and product teams to achieve shared objectives.
Adaptability: Thrives in fast-paced environments where priorities and technologies evolve rapidly.
Communication: Communicates complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Global Teamwork: Works effectively across geographically distributed teams and diverse perspectives.

Intel invests in our people and offers a complete and competitive package of benefits employees and their families through every stage of life.

See Intel Benefits for more details.

Qualifications:

You must possess the below minimum qualifications to be initially considered for this position. Preferred qualifications are in addition to the minimum requirements and are considered a plus factor in identifying top candidates.

Note:

For information on Intel’s immigration sponsorship guidelines, please see

Intel U.S. Immigration Sponsorship Information

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in a Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related technical discipline with 3+ years of hands-on experience in AI frameworks, algorithms, and programming OR Master's degree in the same field with 1+ years of experience.

Your experience described above must be in the following:

Programming in Python and/or C++.
Experience with machine learning or deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
Performance analysis, profiling and optimization.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

Linux and/or Windows operating systems.
Git-based software development workflows.
Experience with GenAI models (LLM, VLM, VLA) or OpenVINO.
Understanding of parallel programming, preferably with experience in SYCL or OpenCL.
Previous publications or contributions to AI research.
Familiarity with OpenVINO or other AI inference frameworks.
Experience contributing to open-source software projects.

Why Join Intel

At Intel, you'll help shape the future of AI by developing technologies that improve the performance and efficiency of AI applications used worldwide. You'll collaborate with industry-leading engineers, work across the AI software and hardware stack, and contribute to innovative solutions that power next-generation computing experiences.

Job Type:

Experienced Hire

Shift:

Shift 1 (United States of America)

Primary Location:

US, California, Santa Clara

Additional Locations:

Posting Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.

Position of Trust

N/A

Benefits

We offer a total compensation package that ranks among the best in the industry. It consists of competitive pay, stock bonuses, and benefit programs which include health, retirement, and vacation. Find out more about the benefits of working at Intel.

Annual Salary Range for jobs which could be performed in the US: $149,750.00-275,580.00 USD

The range displayed on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target compensation for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific compensation range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Work Model for this Role

This role will be eligible for our hybrid work model which allows employees to split their time between working on-site at their assigned Intel site and off-site. * Job posting details (such as work model, location or time type) are subject to change.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Intel is committed to Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) compliance and ethical hiring practices. We do not charge any fees during our hiring process. Candidates should never be required to pay recruitment fees, medical examination fees, or any other charges as a condition of employment. If you are asked to pay any fees during our hiring process, please report this immediately to your recruiter.

How we rate this

AI Model Optimization Engineer at Intel rates 83 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Open the description and count.

Key facts

AI Model Optimization Engineer is an open job at Intel.
Level rates this role AI Level 4 of 4: Builds AI.
The listed salary is $150k-$276k a year.
The role is based in US, California, Santa Clara.
The job was posted on October 15, 2026.
Seniority: mid.
Applications are handled by Intel. Apply on Intel

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

AI ResearchPyTorchTensorFlow

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a research question you investigated. What did you find?
Walk me through how you've used PyTorch in your day-to-day work.
What are the limits of TensorFlow that you've run into, and how did you work around them?
How would you decide a model or AI system is ready to ship?
Tell me about a time a model underperformed in production. How did you find out, and what did you change?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: AI Research, PyTorch, and TensorFlow. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.

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