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Kernels Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$350 - $475/hr

You will develop high-performance ML kernels (e.g., CUDA, CuTe, Triton), enable efficient low-precision arithmetic, and improve the distributed compute stack that makes training large models possible.

New

This role involves designing high-performance GPU kernels and optimizing machine learning operations to enhance the performance of AI workloads. Responsibilities : • Design and implement high ...

$250 - $350/hr

Principal Software Engineer, Kernels What you will do: The role requires you to be part of the team that helps productize the SW stack for our AI compute engine. As part of the software team, you ...

This role focuses on designing high-performance GPU kernels and optimizing computation for machine learning operations, directly impacting production systems for millions of users. Responsibilities ...

Senior Software Engineer, CUTLASS Kernels

Austin, TX · On-site

$121K - $160K/yr

Optimize kernels for peak throughput on both silicon and software performance simulators. * Collaborate with teams across NVIDIA including the GPU architecture, NVVM/PTX compiler, CUDA library, and ...

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Kernels information

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$132K

$173.5K

How much do kernels jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for kernels in the United States is $171,593.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $173,000.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are kernels in computing?

In computing, a kernel is the core component of an operating system that manages system resources and allows software and hardware to communicate. It handles tasks such as memory management, process scheduling, and input/output operations. The kernel operates at a low level, ensuring that different programs and devices work together smoothly and securely. There are different types of kernels, including monolithic and microkernels, each with advantages and trade-offs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a kernel engineer?

To thrive as a Kernel Engineer, you need expertise in operating system concepts, C/C++ programming, and low-level hardware interactions, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with source control systems like Git, debugging tools such as GDB, and experience with Linux kernel development are typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are essential soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for building stable, high-performance kernels and collaborating efficiently within development teams.

What are some common challenges faced when working as a kernel developer, and how can new team members best overcome them?

Kernel Developers often face challenges such as debugging low-level code, understanding complex hardware interactions, and ensuring system stability after making changes. New team members can overcome these hurdles by thoroughly reviewing existing documentation, leveraging debugging tools like kdump or ftrace, and collaborating closely with experienced colleagues during code reviews. Regular participation in team meetings and open-source community discussions also helps in staying updated on best practices and recent developments in kernel engineering.

What is the difference between Kernels vs Network Administrators?

AspectKernelsNetwork Administrators
Required CredentialsKnowledge of operating systems, programming, Linux/UnixNetworking certifications (e.g., CCNA), IT experience
Work EnvironmentSystem-level development, OS configurationNetwork setup, maintenance, troubleshooting
Industry UsageSoftware development, OS designIT services, corporate networks

While Kernels focus on developing and maintaining core operating system components, Network Administrators manage and troubleshoot network infrastructure. Both roles require technical expertise but differ in scope and daily tasks, with Kernels working at the system level and Network Administrators handling network connectivity and security.

More about Kernels jobs

What cities are hiring for Kernels jobs?

Cities with the most Kernels job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Kernels jobs?

The most popular types of Kernels jobs are:

Infographic showing various Kernels job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 71% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 24% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $171,593 per year, or $82.5 per hour.

Sr. Software Engineer - AI Triton Kernels

San Jose, CA • Hybrid


Advanced Micro Devices, Inc
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 5 - 10K employees

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

28th of 159 rated electronics manufacturers

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Respectful managers


$143K - $189K/yr

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago


Job description


WHAT YOU DO AT AMD CHANGES EVERYTHING 

At AMD, our mission is to build great products that accelerate next-generation computing experiences—from AI and data centers, to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we believe real progress comes from bold ideas, human ingenuity and a shared passion to create something extraordinary. When you join AMD, you’ll discover the real differentiator is our culture. We push the limits of innovation to solve the world’s most important challenges—striving for execution excellence, while being direct, humble, collaborative, and inclusive of diverse perspectives. Join us as we shape the future of AI and beyond.  Together, we advance your career.  



THE ROLE:
Triton is a widely adopted language and compiler for high-performance GPU kernels, powering major AI frameworks such as PyTorch, vLLM, and SGLang. As AI workloads increasingly rely on Triton-based kernels, first-class Triton support is strategically critical to AMD’s AI software roadmap.
 
AMD GPUs are an official Triton backend; delivering industry-leading Triton performance on AMD Instinct accelerators is a top priority for AMD. The performance and usability of Triton directly impact the competitiveness of AMD hardware in large-scale AI training and inference.
In this role you will author state-of-the-art performant Triton/Gluon kernels for ML kernels powering the latest and greatest AI models.
 
You will collaborate with research, compiler, and hardware architecture teams to co-design high-performance solutions, analyze bottlenecks to make AMD GPUs the best-in-class platform for Triton-powered AI workloads.
THE PERSON:
The ideal candidate has deep expertise in SIMT programming, parallel algorithms, GPU architecture, and performance engineering. You are comfortable working across the full stack to drive e2e model performance — from vLLM/SGL down to ISA-level performance tuning — and can perform rigorous quantitative analysis to drive measurable improvements.
 
You thrive in highly technical environments, enjoy solving complex performance problems, and are excited to collaborate across model deployment, compiler, runtime, and hardware teams. Most importantly, you are curious, hands-on, and willing to learn and work across boundaries.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Design, research, implement, and rigorously optimize high-performance matmul, attention (flash, paged, grouped-query), MoE, and fully fused transformer kernels using Triton, targeting large-scale LLM and multimodal workloads
  • Own and productionize critical Triton/Gluon kernels within vLLM and SGL (e.g., paged attention, extend attention, MoE, quantized kernels, etc), ensuring correctness, scalability, and peak throughput
  • Partner closely with compiler engineers to develop and maintain the Triton AMD backend across ROCm and the LLVM AMDGPU stack, targeting CDNA and next-generation architectures
  • Drive deep kernel-level optimizations across the AMD memory hierarchy (LDS, L2, HBM), wavefront execution (wave32/wave64), vectorization, MFMA utilization, occupancy tuning, and instruction scheduling to maximize hardware efficiency
  • Perform rigorous profiling and microbenchmarking led optimization on AMD Instinct GPUs using hardware counters and tracing tools; root-cause bottlenecks in memory bandwidth, latency hiding, synchronization, and register pressure
  • Debug and resolve performance and correctness issues end-to-end across PyTorch, vLLM/SGL runtimes, Triton IR/MLIR, ROCm runtime, and the LLVM AMDGPU backend
  • Contribute to open-source Triton, LLVM, and ROCm ecosystems
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
  • Deep experience in GPU kernel development, compiler backends, or performance engineering focused on AI/ML workloads
  • Strong hands-on expertise with Triton, including writing custom matmul, attention, and fused transformer kernels and understanding Triton IR lowering to GPU backends
  • Deep understanding of modern GPU architectures (wavefront execution, memory hierarchy, scheduling, occupancy)
  • Meaningful contributions to open-source projects such as Triton, Torch, vLLM, SGLang, IREE, MLIR, LLVM, or ROCm, with a strong collaborative and upstream-first engineering mindset
PREFERRED ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
 

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.


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Benefits offered are described:  AMD benefits at a glance.

AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee-based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third-party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.   We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position.  AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.

 

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Qualifications:

Benefits offered are described:  AMD benefits at a glance.

AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee-based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third-party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.   We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position.  AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.

 

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Education:UNAVAILABLEEmployment Type: FULL_TIME


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