Senior Embedded Engineer, AI IP

About the role

Tenstorrent builds high-performance AI hardware and has developed a RISC-V CPU from the ground up. This role is centered on architecting and refining the driver layer that exposes high-performance APIs for Tenstorrent's AI-IP products to the broader software ecosystem. The hire will be responsible for building and maintaining both user-mode and kernel-mode drivers, with a strong emphasis on Linux kernel integration for system-level deployments. A key part of the position involves specifying robust and scalable driver interfaces that allow the software stack to operate seamlessly across internal hardware and third-party platforms. Collaboration with kernel and hardware teams will be essential to drive cross-layer design, performance tuning, and PCIe device integration. The individual in this role will also assist external partners with performance engineering, benchmarking, profiling, and API optimization in customer environments, including safety-critical applications. Final offers may reflect a different seniority level than the posted position, as the company evaluates candidates across multiple levels during the interview process.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect and improve the driver layer that exposes high-performance APIs for Tenstorrent devices, ensuring scalability and reliability across diverse deployment scenarios.
• Build and maintain both user-mode and kernel-mode drivers, including Linux kernel drivers for system integration, with a focus on stability and performance.
• Specify driver interfaces that allow the software stack to operate transparently across internal hardware platforms and third-party ecosystems, enabling broad compatibility.
• Work closely with kernel and hardware teams on cross-layer design initiatives, performance tuning, and PCIe device integration to optimize system-level behavior.
• Assist external partners with performance engineering, benchmarking, profiling, and API optimization in customer environments, including deployments within safety-critical application domains.
• Develop comprehensive test and validation procedures for driver components to verify functionality, robustness, and compliance with hardware specifications under varying conditions.
• Contribute to the creation of detailed technical documentation for driver interfaces, configuration options, and integration guidelines to support internal and external users.
• Collaborate with software engineers and system architects to debug complex interactions between hardware features and driver behavior in real-world environments.
• Implement performance regression testing and analysis workflows to ensure that driver changes do not degrade throughput, latency, or power efficiency metrics.
• Support the integration of new AI-IP features into existing driver frameworks, enabling rapid adoption of architectural enhancements and innovations.
• Act as a technical liaison between hardware design, firmware development, and software integration teams to align on driver requirements and expectations.
• Maintain awareness of evolving industry standards and best practices in driver development to ensure that Tenstorrent solutions remain competitive and future-proof.

Requirements

• 7+ years working on device drivers or low-level systems programming in professional or commercial environments.
• Strong command of C and C++ with a clear understanding of hardware-software boundaries and the implications for driver design and implementation.
• Practical experience writing Linux kernel drivers, including deep knowledge of kernel architecture, debugging techniques, and kernel-space/user-space communication mechanisms.
• Background developing drivers for high-speed I/O or interconnect technologies such as PCIe is required; PCIe driver work is strongly preferred and will be considered a core competency.
• Familiarity with both user-mode and kernel-mode driver models, with explicit awareness that Linux kernel driver development differs significantly from bare-metal or RTOS driver development.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret hardware documentation, specification sheets, and reference manuals to implement accurate driver behavior.
• Experience with version control systems, code reviews, and collaborative development workflows in a team-based engineering environment.
• Commitment to maintaining high standards of code quality, documentation, and testing throughout the driver development lifecycle.

Skills & tools

• C, C++
• Linux kernel driver development
• PCIe driver development
• Kernel-space and user-space interaction
• Performance profiling and benchmarking

Practical notes

• Employment is contingent on eligibility to access U.S. export-controlled technology under U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR); restrictions apply to nationals of EAR Country Groups D:1, E1, and E2 regardless of location.
• Offers may depend on citizenship, permanent residency, or ability to obtain prior license approval from the U.S. Commerce Department or relevant federal agency.
• Competitive compensation and benefits provided.
• Equal opportunity employer.