Senior AI Software Development Engineer
Intel is hiring a Senior AI Software Development Engineer. It pays $150k-$276k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Level.
Level's read on this job
- Level rates this software engineer role Builds AI ●●●●: the job is building AI systems.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include Llama, vLLM and PyTorch.
- Level files it as a senior role.
- Level lists 734 other open roles at Intel.
- The role was posted in the last few days.
AI in this role
Job Description:
Why Join Us
Join a team shaping the future of AI on Intel platforms. You will work on cutting-edge technologies that accelerate Large Language Models, Generative AI, and other advanced AI workloads on next-generation Intel GPUs. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with experts across hardware architecture, compilers, runtime systems, and AI frameworks while developing skills that span the full AI software stack. Your work will have direct impact on delivering industry-leading AI performance and enabling the next generation of AI applications.
Intel is seeking a Senior AI Systems Software Engineer to drive optimization strategy and technical leadership across the AI software stack. In this role, you will lead the development of high-performance software solutions that accelerate AI inference workloads, including Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative AI, and emerging machine learning applications on Intel GPU platforms.
You will work across software, compilers, runtimes, frameworks, and hardware architecture teams to deliver breakthrough AI performance and influence future product direction.
What You’ll Do
Key responsibilities will include but not limited to:
- Lead optimization initiatives for AI inference workloads on Intel GPUs.
- Define and drive performance optimization strategies across compilers, runtimes, and GPU kernels.
- Architect software solutions that improve scalability, efficiency, and performance.
- Profile, benchmark, and analyze complex AI workloads to identify system bottlenecks.
- Influence hardware and software co-design decisions through performance characterization and workload analysis.
- Drive cross-functional technical initiatives spanning architecture, compiler, framework, and runtime teams.
- Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across projects.
- Evaluate emerging AI technologies and identify future optimization opportunities.
Behavioral traits that we are looking for:
- Demonstrates exceptional technical judgment and the ability to solve complex, high-impact challenges.
- Thinks strategically across the software and hardware stack, identifying opportunities to improve performance, scalability, and efficiency.
- Leads through influence, building alignment and driving outcomes across cross-functional organizations.
- Communicates effectively with both technical and business audiences, translating complex concepts into actionable insights.
- Operates with a strong sense of ownership and accountability, driving initiatives from strategy through execution.
- Uses data, experimentation, and measurable results to inform decisions and guide technical direction.
- Develops and elevates talent through mentorship, collaboration, and technical leadership.
- Brings an innovation mindset and a passion for advancing the future of AI computing.
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 Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field with 5+ years or experience. Or a Master's degree in the same field with 3+ years of experience or a PhD in the same filed with 1+ years of experience.
Your experience described above must be in the following:
- Experience in software development, AI systems, or performance engineering.
- C++ software development and debugging
- Experience with performance analysis, profiling, and optimization of compute-intensive applications.
- Experience with modern neural network architectures and their execution on hardware accelerators.
Preferred Qualifications and Experience:
- GPU architectures, AI accelerators, or parallel computing systems.
- Experience optimizing end-to-end AI inference workloads in production environments.
- Familiarity with AI inference frameworks such as llama.cpp, vLLM, OpenVINO, PyTorch, TensorRT, ONNX Runtime, or similar technologies.
- Experience with graph compilation and optimization technologies such as MLIR, LLVM, TVM, XLA, or related compiler frameworks.
- Experience with GPU programming models such as Vulkan Compute, OpenCL, SYCL, CUDA, HIP or equivalent technologies.
- Knowledge of neural network optimization techniques, quantization, kernel fusion, memory optimization, and performance tradeoffs.
- Experience across multiple layers of the AI software stack, including:
- AI inference runtimes and serving frameworks
- Graph compilers and optimization frameworks
- GPU kernels and performance-critical compute code
- Experience contributing to open-source software projects is a plus.
Why Join Intel
You'll help shape the future of AI computing by solving some of the industry's most challenging performance problems. Working alongside leading experts in AI, GPU architecture, compilers, and systems software, you'll have the opportunity to influence next-generation technologies that power AI at scale.
Job Type:
Experienced HireShift:
Shift 1 (United States of America)Primary Location:
US, California, FolsomAdditional Locations:
US, California, Santa Clara, US, Oregon, HillsboroPosting 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/ABenefits
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
Senior AI Software Development Engineer at Intel rates 96 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.
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.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Also common in software engineer jobs at this level
Pay
- This job starts at
- $150k
- Typical software engineer job
- $168k
This posting starts 11% below the typical software engineer job. See software engineer jobs
Questions you could be asked
- What's a project where you used Llama hands-on?
- Walk me through how you've used vLLM in your day-to-day work.
- What are the limits of PyTorch 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: Llama, vLLM, and PyTorch. 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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