Senior ML Compiler Engineer, Compute

Waymo is hiring a Senior ML Compiler Engineer, Compute in Mountain View and New York, United States. It pays $213k-$263k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Waymo.

Level's read on this job

Builds AI ●●●● is how Level rates this role: the job is building AI systems.
Tools and skills the posting cites include Compilers, Neural Networks and ml inference.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 369 other open roles at Waymo.

AI in this role

Design and implement compiler optimizations and hardware-software codesign for high-performance neural network inference platforms.

compilersneural-networks

ml-inferencecompiler-designcpythonhardware-software-codesign

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World's Most Experienced Driver™—to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo’s fully autonomous ride-hail service and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over ten million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving over 100 million miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 15+ U.S. states.

Waymo's Compute Team is tasked with a critical and exciting mission: We deliver the compute platform responsible for running the fully autonomous vehicle’s software stack. To achieve our mission, we architect and create high-performance custom silicon; we develop system-level compute architectures that push the boundaries of performance, power, and latency; and we collaborate closely with many other teammates to ensure we design and optimize hardware and software for maximum performance. We are a multidisciplinary team seeking curious and talented teammates to work on one of the world’s highest performance automotive compute platforms.

This role follows a hybrid work schedule and you will report to a Software Engineering Manager.

You will:

Leverage agentic AI to accelerate analysis, planning and implementation of production software improvements
Analyze the performance characteristics of code generated by our production grade compiler, and design and implement optimizations to improve that performance
Design and implement compiler support for novel features of our high-performance architecture
Work with hardware architects to understand and influence the development of our unique neural network inference platform through hardware/software codesign
Work with model developers to tune their neural networks for better inference efficiency and accuracy

You have:

BS degree in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience and 5+ years of industry experience OR
MS degree in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering and 3+ years of industry experience
PhD degree in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering and 1+ years of industry experience
3+ years experience working on compilers for parallel architectures
1+ years experience working with ML inference or linear algebra computation
C++ programming skills, including leveraging agentic AI acceleration

We prefer:

Python programming experience
Experience with compilers for neural networks, especially MLIR-based
Knowledge of computer architectures used for neural network inference, and neural network performance characteristics
Knowledge of the principles behind popular machine learning and neural network algorithms and applications

The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process.

Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo’s discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.

Salary Range$213,000—$263,000 USD

How we rate this

Senior ML Compiler Engineer, Compute at Waymo rates 85 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. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Senior ML Compiler Engineer, Compute is an open job at Waymo.
Level rates this role AI Level 4 of 4: Builds AI.
The listed salary is $213k-$263k a year.
The role is based in Mountain View, CA, US; New York, NY, US.
The job was posted on July 17, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by Waymo. Apply on Waymo

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

ML InferenceCompiler DesignCPythonHardware Software CodesignCompilersNeural Networks

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where ml inference was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where compiler design was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where c was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where python was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where hardware software codesign was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: ML Inference, Compiler Design, C, Python, and Hardware Software Codesign. 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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