SoC Performance Engineer, AI Hardware

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 and debugging, comfortable working rapidly in a small-team environment.

• 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

• 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

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

Expected Compensation

$120,000 – $318,000/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.