Principal Performance Modeling Engineer

Principal Performance Modeling Architect - San Francisco Bay Area - AI Accelerator Startup

About the Role
An innovative AI hardware startup developing next-generation AI accelerator technology are looking for a Principal Performance Modeling Architect to lead the development of a system-level performance modeling platform that influences silicon architecture decisions before tape-out.
This is a highly technical, hands-on individual contributor role where you'll build and extend analytical performance models, evaluate AI hardware architectures, and help shape the future of advanced AI compute systems.

What You'll Be Doing
Own and develop a system-level performance modeling platform for AI accelerator and cluster architectures.
Build analytical models to predict performance, power, energy efficiency, and cost across different hardware designs.
Expand support beyond LLM inference to training, multimodal, and vision workloads.
Work closely with architecture teams to evaluate new silicon concepts and guide design decisions using simulation-backed analysis.
Validate models against real-world AI frameworks and continuously improve accuracy.
Improve platform scalability, automation, and maintainability.
Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and collaborate with customers and partners where required.

What We're Looking For
5+ years' experience in performance modeling, computer architecture, or systems performance engineering.
Strong understanding of AI accelerators, GPUs, HPC systems, memory hierarchies, and interconnects.
Experience developing analytical or first-principles performance models rather than purely benchmarking hardware.
Knowledge of AI inference and training workloads and how they utilise compute, memory, and networking resources.
Strong Python development skills with experience building maintainable engineering tools.
Ability to analyse complex simulation results and influence architecture decisions through data-driven insights.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly.

Make sure you apply quickly as interviews are already being scheduled.
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