Staff Software Engineer, AI Performance Optimization

Company: Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies
Location: Palo Alto
Posted on: March 29, 2025

Job Description:

About UsRivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive's next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we're addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we'll map a new way forward. Working together, we'll create a future that's more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.Role SummaryThe role will focus on enhancing the execution efficiency of AI inference pipelines for in-vehicle applications. This role involves optimizing system performance across embedded hardware, CPUs, DSPs, and AI runtimes through advanced profiling, algorithmic improvements, pipeline optimization, and hardware-software co-optimization.Responsibilities

• Optimize AI inference pipelines for in-vehicle applications, focusing on execution time performance, low latency, and efficient memory architecture on embedded hardware.
• Profile AI workloads with fine-grained granularity to identify performance bottlenecks, using advanced instrumentation, diagnostic techniques, and data-driven insights.
• Enhance AI runtimes (e.g., ONNX Runtime, TensorFlow Lite) through kernel-level optimizations, thread management, and workload distribution across heterogeneous compute units without compromising model accuracy.
• Implement memory architecture optimizations, including efficient cache usage, memory bandwidth utilization, data layout strategies, and proactive compute load distribution between CPUs, DSPs, GPUs, and ECUs.
• Apply advanced algorithmic optimizations, bit precision techniques (e.g., quantization), and parallelization strategies to improve inference speed and reduce resource usage.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with AI researchers, system software engineers, and application teams to co-optimize algorithms, system architecture, and deployment strategies while making data-driven performance trade-offs.
• Continuously monitor system performance through benchmarking, adaptive optimization techniques, and proactive experimentation to drive continuous improvements.Qualifications
• Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, with a focus on performance optimization, AI acceleration, or embedded systems.
• 10+ years of experience in performance optimization, high-performance computing, embedded AI systems, and DSP programming with proficiency in C++.
• Expertise in profiling tools and methodologies (e.g., perf, VTune, gprof) for system performance analysis at kernel, runtime, and hardware levels, coupled with strong problem-solving skills.
• Proven experience with runtime optimizations, including thread pool management, pipeline parallelization, custom kernel development, and optimizing memory architecture.
• Strong background in algorithmic and bit precision optimization techniques (e.g., quantization, mixed-precision inference) and their impact on performance and accuracy.
• Critical thinking skills with the ability to analyze complex systems, identify optimization opportunities, and make data-driven architectural trade-offs.
• Experience with AI frameworks such as TensorFlow Lite, ONNX Runtime, or TVM for embedded deployment is a big plus, and the ability to work in fast-paced, cross-functional environments.Pay DisclosureSalary Range/Hourly Rate for California Based Applicants: 206,000 USD - 258,000 USD (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).Benefits Summary: Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment.Equal OpportunityRivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at .Candidate Data PrivacyRivian and VW Group Technologies may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes. This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies' service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.
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Keywords: Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies, Palo Alto , Staff Software Engineer, AI Performance Optimization, IT / Software / Systems , Palo Alto, California