Staff AI Performance Engineer

About the Job Lead performance work that turns large-scale AI workloads into faster, more efficient systems. As a Staff AI Performance Engineer, you will analyze and optimize AI training and inference workloads across distributed systems. Your work will connect compute, memory, networking and software behavior. You will lead complex performance workstreams across hardware and software. You will find bottlenecks, validate improvements and turn performance evidence into practical engineering decisions. You will build benchmarks, profile demanding workloads and develop C++ and Python tools for analysis and optimization. Your recommendations will help teams improve efficiency, scalability and reliability. This role gives you broad technical scope across AI infrastructure at data center scale. It is based in Milpitas, California. The team and culture The System Engineering Performance team architects, evaluates and optimizes high-performance infrastructure for large-scale data center deployments. The team works across the computing stack to understand real system behavior. Work moves through evidence, ownership and clear technical judgment. You will lead investigations, coordinate across teams and validate impact with reliable performance data. Decisions are shaped through benchmarks, models, simulations and practical engineering tradeoffs. The team values engineers who think big, act fast, take responsibility, speak up and lead beyond their own area. What we’re looking for · Strong experience profiling and optimizing AI, machine learning or high-performance computing workloads. · Experience with distributed systems and communication libraries such as MPI, NCCL, UCX or libfabric. · Strong C++ and Python skills, including reliable tools or performance-sensitive software. · Deep understanding of compute, memory and communication behavior in large-scale systems. · Ability to lead technically complex work and coordinate improvements across teams. · Familiarity with MLPerf, accelerated architectures, ML frameworks or high-performance interconnects. While we have outlined a set of requirements, we value transferable skills and diverse experiences. We also welcome engineers returning to the profession after a career break, including through returnship routes. Benefits Graphcore offers competitive compensation and benefits designed to support employees' health, financial well-being, work-life needs, and professional growth. Benefits and programs for eligible U.S. employees may include: • Medical, dental, and vision coverage, with options that may extend to eligible dependents. • Mental health, wellness, and employee assistance resources. • Retirement savings benefits and company contributions where applicable. • Paid vacation, sick time, company holidays, and parental or family leave in accordance with applicable plans and policies. • Life insurance and short-term or long-term disability coverage. • Flexible working hours and hybrid working arrangements where compatible with the role and team requirements. • Professional-development resources, learning programs, office amenities, and team-led activities. Benefits vary by work location, employment status, scheduled hours, and plan eligibility and are subject to the terms of the applicable plans and company policies. This overview is not a contract or guarantee of benefits. Graphcore is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Graphcore is committed to an inclusive and accessible hiring process. If you need a reaso