Software Engineer, Core AI Compiler & Runtime

Tesla Motors, Inc.
132,000 - 390,000 USD
paid holidays, flex time, 401(k)
United States, California, Palo Alto
Feb 01, 2026
What to Expect As a Software Engineer within our AI teams, you will contribute to one of the most advanced and widely deployed AI Platforms in the world, powering Autopilot and our Humanoid Robot, Optimus. In this role, you will be responsible for the design and development of the AI inference stack running neural networks in millions of Tesla vehicles and Optimus. You will collaborate closely with the AI Engineers and Hardware Engineers to understand requirements and co-design the compiler/runtime to extract the maximum performance out of our hardware. The inference stack is purpose-driven: deployment and analysis of production models inform the team's direction, and the team's work immediately impacts performance and the ability to deploy increasingly complex models. With a cutting-edge co-designed MLIR compiler and runtime architecture, and full control of the hardware, the compiler has access to traditionally unavailable features that can be leveraged via novel optimization approaches for code generation aimed at squeezing the best performance possible out of Tesla's hardware. What You'll Do Write, debug and maintain robust software for Tesla AI inference (Compiler / Runtime) across FSD, Optimus, and Data Center use-cases Provide AI developers access to performance-critical hardware features through new APIs and Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) Design APIs, compiler and runtime features enabling distributed inference on Tesla's hardware Support the integration of our deployment stack with ML frameworks (PyTorch, JAX) Keep up-to-date and collaborate with ML/compiler open-source community Analyze and debug functional and performance issues on massively parallel systems Integrate and deploy AI models in autonomous vehicles, robots, and offline inference What You'll Bring Demonstratedexpertisewith ML compilers/runtimes (e.g.MLIR, LLVM, XLA, PJRT,TensorRT) Experience with the development of Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) like Triton,cuTile, Pallas Robust familiarity with CPUs,GPUsand modern AI accelerators Advanced knowledge of computer architecture, distributed systems, networking, and collectives Prior experience working with ML frameworks (PyTorch, JAX), with a focus on framework internals Proficient C/C++ programming C/C++ including modern C/C++ (C++14/17/20) Basic Pythonproficiency Familiarity with modern ML architectures Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent in experience and evidence of exceptional ability Compensation and Benefits Benefits Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire: Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits Company paid Basic Life, AD&D Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period) Employee Assistance Program Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays Back-up childcare and parenting support resources Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs Tesla Babies program Commuter benefits Employee discounts and perks program Expected Compensation $132,000 - $390,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.