Level

Cerebras

Software Engineer - New Grad 2026

Cerebras is hiring a Software Engineer - New Grad 2026 in Toronto, Canada. Level rates it ; you can apply on Cerebras.

Level's read on this job

  • Works on AI ●●●○ is how Level rates this software engineer role: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
  • Some of the work can be done remotely, according to the posting.
  • The posting mentions OpenAI, Python and AI research among its tools and skills.
  • Level classes it as a junior role.
  • Cerebras has 121 other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

Develop low-level software, infrastructure, and distributed systems to support next-generation AI accelerators at Cerebras.

openaipython
ai-researchsystems-programmingdistributed-systemsnetworkingembedded-systemsperformance-optimization

Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, 56 times larger than GPUs. This architecture allows Cerebras to deliver industry-leading training and inference speeds; over 10 times faster than GPU-based hyperscale cloud inference services.

This order of magnitude increase in speed is transforming the user experience of AI applications, unlocking real-time iteration and increasing intelligence via additional agentic computation.

Cerebras works with the leading model labs, global enterprises, and cutting-edge AI-native startups. OpenAI recently announced a multi-year partnership with Cerebras, to deploy 750 megawatts of scale, transforming key workloads with ultra high-speed inference.

About The Role

As a New Graduate Software Engineer, you will collaborate with world-class engineers to solve real-world challenges across the software stack. You will contribute to software systems that directly impact performance, scalability, reliability, and usability of next-generation AI infrastructure.

This role is ideal for candidates with a strong interest in systems programming, networking, embedded systems, distributed infrastructure, or performance-oriented software engineering. Our teams work very closely with hardware, so candidates with experience primarily focused on higher-level application development or AI applications may be less aligned with the nature of this work.

You will gain hands-on experience working across multiple layers of a fully integrated AI-accelerated system, including advanced hardware interfaces, low-level infrastructure, distributed systems, compilers, and ML frameworks.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with experienced engineers on real-world systems and infrastructure challenges.

  • Design, implement, test, and debug software solutions that directly impact system performance and reliability.

  • Contribute to low-level software components interacting closely with hardware and networking infrastructure.

  • Learn and contribute across multiple layers of a fully integrated AI-accelerated platform.

  • Participate in debugging, performance optimization, and system bring-up activities.

  • Develop tools and infrastructure to improve observability, reliability, and scalability.

  • Work cross-functionally with hardware, firmware, compiler, and infrastructure teams.

Required Qualifications

  • Recently graduated or currently enrolled in a university program in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline (graduating in 2026).

  • Proficiency in C/C++ programming languages

  • Interest or exposure to systems/socket programming, networking, embedded systems, operating systems, device drivers, distributed systems, or network performance.

  • Desire to work close to hardware/network and learn low-level engineering concepts.

  • Detail-oriented but keen to learn the bigger picture and step out of comfort zone.

  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

  • Hybrid role based in Toronto, ON, or Sunnyvale CA

Assets

  • Experience with Linux systems programming or debugging tools.

  • Familiarity with TCP/RDMA protocols, RPCs, and packet trace tools such as Wireshark

  • Exposure to networking concepts, device drivers, embedded systems, or distributed infrastructure.

  • Familiarity with performance optimization or concurrent programming concepts.

  • Interest in large-scale AI infrastructure and accelerated computing systems.

 

Why Join Cerebras

People who are serious about software make their own hardware. At Cerebras, we have built a breakthrough architecture that is unlocking new opportunities for the AI industry. With dozens of model releases and rapid growth, we’ve reached an inflection point in our business. Members of our team tell us there are five main reasons they joined Cerebras:

  1. Build a breakthrough AI platform beyond the constraints of the GPU.

  2. Publish and open source their cutting-edge AI research.

  3. Work on one of the fastest AI supercomputers in the world.

  4. Enjoy job stability with startup vitality.

  5. Our simple, non-corporate work culture that respects individual beliefs.

Find out more about what it's like to work at Cerebras here!

Apply today and become part of the forefront of groundbreaking advancements in AI!

Cerebras Systems is committed to creating an equal and diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe inclusive teams build better products and companies. We try every day to build a work environment that empowers people to do their best work through continuous learning, growth and support of those around them.

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How we rate this

Software Engineer - New Grad 2026 at Cerebras rates 70 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.

  1. ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
  2. ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
  3. ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
  4. ●○○○ 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.

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

AI ResearchSystems ProgrammingDistributed SystemsNetworkingEmbedded SystemsPerformance OptimizationOpenAIPython

Also common in software engineer jobs at this level

Pay

Typical software engineer job
$168k

This posting doesn't list pay. Use the typical software engineer figure when pay comes up. See software engineer jobs

Questions you could be asked

  1. Tell me about a research question you investigated. What did you find?
  2. Tell me about a project where systems programming was part of your work. What did you do?
  3. Tell me about a project where distributed systems was part of your work. What did you do?
  4. Tell me about a project where networking was part of your work. What did you do?
  5. Tell me about a project where embedded systems was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

  • List these exact terms on your resume: AI Research, Systems Programming, Distributed Systems, Networking, and Embedded Systems. 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.
  • Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.

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