SoC Performance Engineer, AI Hardware

What To Expect
Join Tesla’s AI Hardware team to pioneer the next generation of AI accelerators. In this role, you will focus on system-level performance verification for our custom System-on-Chip (SoC) designs, ensuring optimal performance, power efficiency, and reliability in AI workloads. The ideal candidate is an experienced SoC performance engineer with a strong background in verification.

What You'll Do

Develop and execute subsystem and system-level performance tests to verify AI hardware performance

Debug performance issues in simulation, emulation, and post-silicon environments, identifying root causes and proposing optimizations

Collaborate with hardware architects, software teams, and design engineers to validate SoC architectures against machine learning workloads

Analyze performance metrics (e.g., throughput, latency, power consumption) and correlate results across pre- and post-silicon stages

Create automated test frameworks and scripts to streamline performance verification processes

Conduct architectural explorations and trade-off analyses to guide SoC design improvements for AI acceleration

Document findings, methodologies, and recommendations to inform cross-functional teams and future hardware roadmaps

What You'll Bring

Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent in experience and evidence of exceptional ability

Previous industry/research experience in SoC performance verification, including subsystem and system-level testing

Proven expertise in debugging hardware issues in simulation (e.g., RTL simulators), emulation platforms (e.g., FPGA-based), or post-silicon environments

Strong proficiency in Python and C++ for test development, automation, and analysis; familiarity with hardware description languages (e.g., Verilog/SystemVerilog) is a plus

Solid understanding of SoC architectures, AI accelerators, memory systems, and parallel computing principles

Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills, with a track record of resolving complex performance bottlenecks

Ability to work collaboratively in fast-paced teams, with clear communication skills for technical documentation and presentations. Knowledge of ML workloads, compiler optimizations, or performance modeling tools is a plus

Benefits
Compensation and Benefits
Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

Aetna PPO and HSA plans > 2 medical 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 Account) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Aetna 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

Employee Assistance Program

Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary 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

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