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High Performance Computing Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Fortran Compiler Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$122K - $168K/yr

NVIDIA's HPC compiler group is seeking a Fortran compiler developer to contribute to the ... high-performance computing, while implementing and improving features in LLVM Flang, OpenACC, and ...

About the Role RadixArk is hiring a Performance Engineer in Palo Alto, CA - someone who can push ... ML runtimes, or high-performance computing * Familiarity with profiling tools, performance ...

About the Role RadixArk is hiring a Performance Engineer in Palo Alto, CA - someone who can push ... ML runtimes, or high-performance computing * Familiarity with profiling tools, performance ...

$100K - $500K/yr

... high-performance computing applications. This role is ideal for early-career architects with a ... What We Need * PhD preferred (MS considered) in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering ...

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High Performance Computing Engineer information

See California salary details

$10

$59

$96

How much do high performance computing engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for high performance computing engineer in California is $59.32, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48.65 and $67.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a High Performance Computing (HPC) Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science, parallel programming, and distributed systems, typically supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with HPC clusters, Linux/Unix environments, programming languages like C/C++ or Python, and tools such as MPI, OpenMP, and job schedulers is essential. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for optimizing system performance and collaborating with researchers or end-users. These abilities ensure efficient computational solutions, maximize resource utilization, and drive innovation in data-intensive scientific or engineering projects.

What is a High Performance Computing Engineer?

A High Performance Computing (HPC) Engineer is a specialist who designs, builds, and maintains advanced computing systems that deliver exceptional processing power for complex computational tasks. These professionals optimize hardware and software environments to support scientific research, large-scale simulations, and data-intensive applications. They work with supercomputers, clusters, and cloud HPC resources, ensuring high efficiency, scalability, and reliability. HPC Engineers also support researchers and organizations in maximizing the performance of their computing infrastructure.

What are some common challenges High Performance Computing Engineers face when optimizing system performance?

High Performance Computing Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing resource allocation, managing workload distribution, and minimizing system bottlenecks. They must ensure that hardware and software components interact efficiently, which can require deep knowledge of parallel computing, networking, and storage systems. Additionally, staying up-to-date with rapidly evolving technologies and troubleshooting complex performance issues are integral parts of the role. Collaborating closely with researchers and IT teams is essential to tailor solutions that meet specific computational needs.

What is the difference between High Performance Computing Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectHigh Performance Computing EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or master's in computer science, engineering, or related fields; knowledge of parallel computingBachelor's or master's in data science, statistics, or related fields; programming skills in Python, R
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, tech companies, supercomputing centersBusiness, tech firms, research institutions
Industry UsageSupercomputing, scientific research, simulationsData analysis, machine learning, predictive modeling

High Performance Computing Engineers focus on developing and optimizing large-scale computing systems for scientific and technical applications, while Data Scientists analyze data to extract insights. Both roles require programming skills and work in tech-driven environments, but their core objectives differ: system performance versus data analysis.

What are the most commonly searched types of High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California? For High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for High Performance Computing Engineer jobs in California are:
Software Engineering Manager, ML Kernel Performance, AWS Neuron, Annapurna Labs

Software Engineering Manager, ML Kernel Performance, AWS Neuron, Annapurna Labs

Amazon

Cupertino, CA • On-site

$172K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 hours ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 6,956 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

The Annapurna Labs team at Amazon Web Services (AWS) builds AWS Neuron, the software development kit used to accelerate deep learning and GenAI workloads on Amazon's custom machine learning accelerators, Inferentia and Trainium.
The Acceleration Kernel Library team is at the forefront of maximizing performance for AWS's custom ML accelerators. Working at the hardware-software boundary, our engineers craft high-performance kernels for ML functions, ensuring every FLOP counts in delivering optimal performance for our customers' demanding workloads. We combine deep hardware knowledge with ML expertise to push the boundaries of what's possible in AI acceleration.
The AWS Neuron SDK, developed by the Annapurna Labs team at AWS, is the backbone for accelerating deep learning and GenAI workloads on Amazon's Inferentia and Trainium ML accelerators

This comprehensive toolkit includes an ML compiler, runtime, and application framework that seamlessly integrates with popular ML frameworks like PyTorch, enabling unparalleled ML inference and training performance.
As part of the broader Neuron Compiler organization, our team works across multiple technology layers - from frameworks and compilers to runtime and collectives. We not only optimize current performance but also contribute to future architecture designs, working closely with customers to enable their models and ensure optimal performance. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of machine learning, high-performance computing, and distributed architectures, where you'll help shape the future of AI acceleration technology
This is an opportunity to work on cutting-edge products at the intersection of machine-learning, high-performance computing, and distributed architectures

You will architect and implement business-critical features, publish cutting-edge research, and mentor a brilliant team of experienced engineers. We operate in spaces that are very large, yet our teams remain small and agile. There is no blueprint.

We're inventing. We're experimenting. It is a very unique learning culture.

The team works closely with customers on their model enablement, providing direct support and optimization expertise to ensure their machine learning workloads achieve optimal performance on AWS ML accelerators.
Explore the product and our history.
https://awsdocs-neuron.readthedocs-hosted.com/en/latest/neuron-guide/neuron-cc/index.html
https://aws.amazon.com/machine-learning/neuron/
https://github.com/aws/aws-neuron-sdk
https://www.amazon.science/how-silicon-innovation-became-the-secret-sauce-behind-awss-success
Key job responsibilities
Our kernel engineers collaborate across compiler, runtime, framework, and hardware teams to optimize machine learning workloads for our global customer base. Working at the intersection of software, hardware, and machine learning systems, you'll bring expertise in low-level optimization, system architecture, and ML model acceleration

In this role, you will:
* Design and implement high-performance compute kernels for ML operations, leveraging the Neuron architecture and programming models
* Analyze and optimize kernel-level performance across multiple generations of Neuron hardware
* Conduct detailed performance analysis using profiling tools to identify and resolve bottlenecks
* Implement compiler optimizations such as fusion, sharding, tiling, and scheduling
* Work directly with customers to enable and optimize their ML models on AWS accelerators
* Collaborate across teams to develop innovative kernel optimization techniques
A day in the life
As you design and code solutions to help our team drive efficiencies in software architecture, you'll create metrics, implement automation and other improvements, and resolve the root cause of software defects. You'll also:
Build high-impact solutions to deliver to our large customer base.
Participate in design discussions, code review, and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
Work cross-functionally to help drive business decisions with your technical input.
Work in a startup-like development environment, where you're always working on the most important stuff.
About the team
#1. Why AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform

We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating - that's why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.
#2. Inclusive Team Culture
Here at AWS, we embrace our differences. We are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion

We have ten employee-led affinity groups, reaching 40,000 employees in over 190 chapters globally. We have innovative benefit offerings, and host annual and ongoing learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon (gender diversity) conferences. Amazon's culture of inclusion is reinforced within our 16 Leadership Principles, which remind team members to seek diverse perspectives, learn and be curious, and earn trust.
#3

Work/Life Balance
Our team puts a high value on work-life balance. It isn't about how many hours you spend at home or at work; it's about the flow you establish that brings energy to both parts of your life. We believe striking the right balance between your personal and professional life is critical to life-long happiness and fulfillment.

We offer flexibility in working hours and encourage you to find your own balance between your work and personal lives.
#4. Mentorship & Career Growth
Our team is dedicated to supporting new members. We have a broad mix of experience levels and tenures, and we're building an environment that celebrates knowledge sharing and mentorship

We care about your career growth and strive to assign projects based on what will help each team member develop into a better-rounded professional and enable them to take on more complex tasks in the future.
#5. Diverse Experiences
AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply

If your career is just starting, hasn't followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don't let it stop you from applying.


What Amazon employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Amazon logo

About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US