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Compiler Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Compiler Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$200K - $300K/yr

MS or PhD in Computer Engineering/CS/EE * 5+ years industry experience as a compiler engineer or developer * Experience developing compilers for GPU, dataflow compilers, or ML compilers * Startup ...

Senior Compiler Engineer Infrastructure

Redmond, WA · On-site

$121.50K - $165.20K/yr

D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience) • Experience with open-source compiler frameworks • Excellent hands-on C++ programming skills • 3+ ...

Senior Compiler Engineer Infrastructure

OR · On-site +1

$108.40K - $147.40K/yr

D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience) * Experience with open-source compiler frameworks * Excellent hands-on C++ programming skills * 3+ years ...

Senior Compiler Engineer Infrastructure

Austin, TX · On-site

$107.50K - $146.20K/yr

D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience) • Experience with open-source compiler frameworks • Excellent hands-on C++ programming skills • 3+ ...

Senior Compiler Engineer Infrastructure

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$127.40K - $173.20K/yr

D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience) • Experience with open-source compiler frameworks • Excellent hands-on C++ programming skills • 3+ ...

Senior Compiler Engineer Infrastructure

Austin, TX · On-site +1

$107.50K - $146.20K/yr

D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience) * Experience with open-source compiler frameworks * Excellent hands-on C++ programming skills * 3+ years ...

Senior Compiler Engineer Infrastructure

Redmond, WA · On-site +1

$121.50K - $165.20K/yr

D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience) * Experience with open-source compiler frameworks * Excellent hands-on C++ programming skills * 3+ years ...

Compiler Engineer

Hillsboro, OR · On-site

$149.60K - $211.20K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field. * 5+ years of experience in one or more of the following areas: * Compiler backend design and implementation

Senior Compiler Engineer Infrastructure

Santa Clara, CA · On-site +1

$127.40K - $173.20K/yr

D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience) * Experience with open-source compiler frameworks * Excellent hands-on C++ programming skills * 3+ years ...

Collaborate closely with software, hardware, and systems engineering teams to refine and evolve our compiler architecture. * Improve compiler robustness, efficiency, determinism, and maintainability ...

Senior Compiler Engineer - AI

Austin, TX · On-site

$121.40K - $160.10K/yr

Design and implement end-to-end compiler optimization workflows, from feature engineering and model development to compiler integration and production rollout. * Develop and integrate learning-based ...

OR

$104.40K - $143.40K/yr

Compiler engineering experience including LLVM, MLIR, TVM, or XLA - you understand how passes are composed, how IR semantics are preserved, and where correctness breaks down * Formal methods or ...

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Compiler Engineering information

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$12

$31

$57

How much do compiler engineering jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for compiler engineering in the United States is $31.55, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.19 and $37.98 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Compiler Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Compiler Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science, algorithms, data structures, and programming languages, typically supported by a relevant degree. Proficiency with tools like LLVM, GCC, debugging utilities, and version control systems is essential, and advanced knowledge of assembly language or specific hardware architectures is often required. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective problem-solving are crucial soft skills for addressing complex coding and optimization challenges. These skills ensure the creation of efficient, reliable compilers that directly impact the performance and correctness of software systems.

What are some typical projects or tasks a compiler engineer works on within a development team?

Compiler engineers often work on designing, implementing, and optimizing compiler components such as parsers, code generators, and optimization passes. They collaborate closely with language designers, toolchain developers, and hardware teams to ensure that code is efficiently translated and executed on target platforms. Daily tasks may include debugging complex code transformation issues, improving performance for specific workloads, and reviewing code contributions from other developers. The role requires a balance between theoretical computer science concepts and practical software engineering, making teamwork and ongoing communication with other engineering disciplines essential.

What does a Compiler Engineer do?

A Compiler Engineer designs, develops, and maintains compilers, which are programs that translate source code written in one programming language into another, typically into machine code that computers can execute. Their work ensures code is translated efficiently, correctly, and securely, often optimizing for speed and resource usage. Compiler Engineers collaborate with programming language designers, hardware engineers, and software developers to implement new language features, improve performance, and support new hardware architectures. They also debug and resolve issues related to code generation, optimization, and compatibility.

What is the difference between Compiler Engineering vs Software Development?

AspectCompiler EngineeringSoftware Development
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Computer Science, specialized knowledge in programming languages and compiler designBachelor's or higher in Computer Science or related field, general programming skills
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, tech companies, specialized teams focused on language toolsVaried environments including startups, corporations, freelance projects
Industry UsagePrimarily in software tools, programming language development, and system softwareAcross all software sectors including web, mobile, enterprise, and embedded systems

Compiler Engineering focuses on designing and developing compilers and language tools, requiring specialized knowledge in programming languages and compiler theory. Software Development is broader, involving creating, testing, and maintaining software applications across various industries. While both roles require strong programming skills, Compiler Engineering is more specialized and research-oriented, whereas Software Development offers a wider range of projects and environments.

Infographic showing various Compiler Engineering job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,624 per year, or $31.6 per hour.
Staff Engineer - LLVM/Ripple Compiler

Staff Engineer - LLVM/Ripple Compiler

Qualcomm

San Diego, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago


Qualcomm rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

4th of 185 rated software companies


Job description

Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Machine Learning Engineering
General Summary:
Qualcomm is seeking a highly skilled Staff Engineer to drive development of LLVM-Ripple, its compiler toolchain, and the supporting ecosystem that enables highly-parallel application development on Snapdragon platforms. In this role, you will design, develop, optimize, and maintain compiler components, parallel runtimes, and developer-facing features that significantly improve the programming experience for massively parallel applications targeting heterogeneous compute architectures.
You will work closely with architecture teams, runtime engineers, and application developers to evolve the Ripple programming model, enhance performance portability, and expand compiler and runtime capabilities. This position requires deep expertise in compiler internals, parallel programming models, and performance optimization on modern SoCs.
Responsibilities
  • Lead design and development of LLVM-Ripple compiler components, including front-end extensions, middle-end optimizations, back-end code generation, and tooling support.
  • Architect and implement improvements to parallel runtimes, including scheduling, memory models, synchronization, and heterogeneous workloads targeting Snapdragon processors.
  • Define and evolve programming abstractions to improve developer experience for highly parallel and heterogeneous applications.
  • Collaborate with hardware architecture teams to model and expose new parallel features, SIMD/SIMT execution models, and accelerator capabilities through compiler and runtime interfaces.
  • Drive performance analysis, benchmarking, and optimization across the full Ripple ecosystem: compiler, runtime, libraries, and application workloads.
  • Deliver high-quality, maintainable code and documentation; contribute upstream to LLVM and Ripple where appropriate.
  • Provide technical mentorship, code reviews, and guidance to junior engineers.
  • Work cross-functionally with internal customers to enable new use cases, improve toolchain reliability, and enhance developer workflows.

Minimum skills
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field and 8+ years of software engineering experience OR
    Master's degree in the same fields and 6+ years of experience OR
    PhD and 3+ years of experience.
  • Strong experience with LLVM development, including IR transformations, back-end targets, code generation, or compiler toolchain design.
  • Expertise in parallel programming models, such as:
    • CUDA
    • OpenCL
    • OpenMP
    • SIMD/SIMT programming
    • GPU programming models or heterogeneous compute frameworks
  • Proficiency with C/C++ and modern compiler engineering practices.
  • Experience with runtime systems, concurrency, or parallel execution models.
  • Strong debugging, performance analysis, and optimization skills.

Preferred Skills
  • Experience contributing to upstream LLVM or similar large open-source compiler projects.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 4+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 3+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 2+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:
$158,400.00 - $237,600.00
The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer - and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.

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About Qualcomm

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Qualcomm is enabling a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. You interact with products and technologies made possible by Qualcomm every day, including 5G-enabled smartphones that double as pro-level cameras and gaming devices, smarter vehicles and cities, and the technology behind the smart, connected factories that manufactured your latest purchase. Our powerful connectivity solutions keep you connected—even in remote areas. Qualcomm 5G and AI innovations are the power behind the connected intelligent edge. You’ll find our technologies behind and inside the innovations that deliver significant value across multiple industries and to billions of people every day.

Industry

Technology, communication and media

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Diego, CA, US

Year founded

1985