Sr. ML Kernel Performance Engineer, AWS Neuron, Annapurna Labs

Amazon is hiring a Sr. ML Kernel Performance Engineer, AWS Neuron, Annapurna Labs in Cupertino, United States. It pays $193k-$262k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

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 PyTorch, TensorFlow and AWS Neuron.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Architect and optimize high-performance kernels for deep learning and GenAI workloads on custom AWS ML accelerators.

PyTorchTensorFlowAWS NeuronInferentiaTrainium

high-performance-computingdeep-learningkernel-optimizationcompilers

The Annapurna Labs team at Amazon Web Services (AWS) builds AWS Neuron, the software development kit used to accelerate deep learning and GenAI workloads on Amazon’s custom machine learning accelerators, Inferentia and Trainium.

The Acceleration Kernel Library team is at the forefront of maximizing performance for AWS's custom ML accelerators. Working at the hardware-software boundary, our engineers craft high-performance kernels for ML functions, ensuring every FLOP counts in delivering optimal performance for our customers' demanding workloads. We combine deep hardware knowledge with ML expertise to push the boundaries of what's possible in AI acceleration.

The AWS Neuron SDK, developed by the Annapurna Labs team at AWS, is the backbone for accelerating deep learning and GenAI workloads on Amazon's Inferentia and Trainium ML accelerators. This comprehensive toolkit includes an ML compiler, runtime, and application framework that seamlessly integrates with popular ML frameworks like PyTorch, enabling unparalleled ML inference and training performance.

As part of the broader Neuron Compiler organization, our team works across multiple technology layers - from frameworks and compilers to runtime and collectives. We not only optimize current performance but also contribute to future architecture designs, working closely with customers to enable their models and ensure optimal performance. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of machine learning, high-performance computing, and distributed architectures, where you'll help shape the future of AI acceleration technology

This is an opportunity to work on cutting-edge products at the intersection of machine-learning, high-performance computing, and distributed architectures. You will architect and implement business-critical features, publish cutting-edge research, and mentor a brilliant team of experienced engineers. We operate in spaces that are very large, yet our teams remain small and agile. There is no blueprint. We're inventing. We're experimenting. It is a very unique learning culture. The team works closely with customers on their model enablement, providing direct support and optimization expertise to ensure their machine learning workloads achieve optimal performance on AWS ML accelerators.

Explore the product and our history!
https://awsdocs-neuron.readthedocs-hosted.com/en/latest/neuron-guide/neuron-cc/index.html
https://aws.amazon.com/machine-learning/neuron/
https://github.com/aws/aws-neuron-sdk
https://www.amazon.science/how-silicon-innovation-became-the-secret-sauce-behind-awss-success

Key job responsibilities
Our kernel engineers collaborate across compiler, runtime, framework, and hardware teams to optimize machine learning workloads for our global customer base. Working at the intersection of software, hardware, and machine learning systems, you'll bring expertise in low-level optimization, system architecture, and ML model acceleration. In this role, you will:

* Design and implement high-performance compute kernels for ML operations, leveraging the Neuron architecture and programming models
* Analyze and optimize kernel-level performance across multiple generations of Neuron hardware
* Conduct detailed performance analysis using profiling tools to identify and resolve bottlenecks
* Implement compiler optimizations such as fusion, sharding, tiling, and scheduling
* Work directly with customers to enable and optimize their ML models on AWS accelerators
* Collaborate across teams to develop innovative kernel optimization techniques

About the team
Diverse Experiences
Amazon values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.

Inclusive Team Culture
Here at Amazon, we embrace our differences. We are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion. We have ten employee-led affinity groups, reaching 40,000 employees in over 190 chapters globally. We have innovative benefit offerings, and host annual and ongoing learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon (gender diversity) conferences. Amazon’s culture of inclusion is reinforced within our 16 Leadership Principles, which remind team members to seek diverse perspectives, learn and be curious, and earn trust.

Work/Life Balance
Our team puts a high value on work-life balance. It isn’t about how many hours you spend at home or at work; it’s about the flow you establish that brings energy to both parts of your life. We believe striking the right balance between your personal and professional life is critical to life-long happiness and fulfillment. We offer flexibility in working hours and encourage you to find your own balance between your work and personal lives.

Basic qualifications

- 5+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language experience
- 5+ years of leading design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- 5+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team

Preferred qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
- 6+ years of full software development experience
- Expertise in accelerator architectures for ML or HPC such as GPUs, CPUs, FPGAs, or custom architectures
- Experience with GPU kernel optimization and GPGPU computing such as CUDA, NKI, Triton, OpenCL, SYCL, or ROCm
- Demonstrated experience with NVIDIA PTX and/or AMD GPU ISA
- Experience developing high performance libraries for HPC applications
- Proficiency in low-level performance optimization for GPUs
- Experience with LLVM/MLIR backend development for GPUs
- Knowledge of ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) and their GPU backends
- Experience with parallel programming and optimization techniques
- Understanding of GPU memory hierarchies and optimization strategies

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.

USA, CA, Cupertino - 193,300.00 - 261,500.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Sr. ML Kernel Performance Engineer, AWS Neuron, Annapurna Labs at Amazon rates 90 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

Sr. ML Kernel Performance Engineer, AWS Neuron, Annapurna Labs is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 4 of 4: Builds AI.
The listed salary is $193k-$262k a year.
The role is based in US, CA, Cupertino.
The job was posted on September 1, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by Amazon. Apply on Amazon

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

High Performance ComputingDeep learningKernel OptimizationCompilersPyTorchTensorFlowAWS NeuronInferentia

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where high performance computing was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where deep learning was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where kernel optimization was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where compilers was part of your work. What did you do?
Walk me through how you've used PyTorch in your day-to-day work.

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: High Performance Computing, Deep learning, Kernel Optimization, Compilers, 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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