FY27 Intern - Machine Learning Compiler & Performance Engineering Intern - Canada (16 months)

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Qualcomm Overview:

Qualcomm is a company of inventors that unlocked 5G ushering in an age of rapid acceleration in connectivity and new possibilities that will transform industries, create jobs, and enrich lives. But this is just the beginning. It takes inventive minds with diverse skills, backgrounds, and cultures to transform 5Gs potential into world-changing technologies and products. This is the Invention Age - and this is where you come in.

General Summary:

About Qualcomm

Qualcomm relentlessly innovates transforming businesses, enriching lives and fortifying societies. Our solutions are pivotal in crafting a smarter, interconnected world. Building on our nearly 40-year history of era-defining technology breakthroughs, we deliver leading-edge AI, high performance, lower-power computing, and unrivaled connectivity. We’re proud to be the partner of choice to many of the world’s largest enterprises. Together with our ecosystem partners, we enable next-generation digital transformation. At Qualcomm, we are engineering human progress.

Join Us in Shaping the Future

At Qualcomm, we're committed to engineering human progress by delivering intelligent computing everywhere. We're passionate about harnessing the power of technology to transform industries and improve lives. Our early career programs offer limitless opportunities for growth, mentorship, and meaningful work. By joining our team, you'll be part of a community that's pushing the boundaries of what's possible in AI, computing, and connectivity. With a global footprint spanning over 30 countries, you'll have the chance to collaborate with diverse talent and contribute to projects that are shaping the future of technology.

Our early career programs are designed to attract inventive minds, offering a platform to contribute to our long-term innovation pipeline. You'll be part of a community that values collaboration, creativity, and continuous learning. Our programs provide real-world experience, technical skills, and professional development opportunities, empowering you to make a meaningful impact and achieve your career goals. Join us for our 2027 intern class in Markham, Canada!

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Role Overview

As an Intern on the Machine Learning Systems Team, you will work at the intersection of machine learning, compiler technology, and AI hardware architecture. You will collaborate closely with software, firmware, performance architecture, and hardware teams to improve the execution of state-of-the-art AI models on Qualcomm's Neural Processing Unit (NPU).

The ML Systems team focuses on two key areas:

• Development and evolution of production and next-generation ML/AI compilers for efficient mapping of AI workloads to Qualcomm hardware.

• Analysis of ML/AI algorithms and workloads to help shape future Qualcomm hardware and software innovations.

The team develops and maintains production compiler technology that ships as part of the Qualcomm AI Runtime SDK and is used to accelerate AI workloads across Qualcomm platforms. In addition, the team builds and utilizes performance modeling and simulation tools to evaluate current and future AI architectures.

This role provides a unique opportunity to develop both software and hardware expertise while working with state-of-the-art AI models, including large language models (LLMs), multimodal models, computer vision networks, and generative AI workloads. Interns will gain exposure to hardware/software co-design and help evaluate tradeoffs between performance, power efficiency, memory utilization, and programmability.

To ensure a fair and consistent evaluation process, candidates are expected to complete all interviews independently. The use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Gemini, or similar technologies) during interviews is not permitted unless explicitly authorized by the interviewer.

Responsibilities may include:

Analyze and Improve Performance

• Compile and optimize neural networks for execution on Qualcomm AI accelerators

• Analyze model performance and identify opportunities to improve compiler algorithms, runtime efficiency, and hardware utilization

• Prototype algorithms that enable AI workloads to execute with high performance and low power consumption on Qualcomm hardware

• Identify bottlenecks in compute and the memory hierarchy

• Recommend software and hardware enhancements to improve overall system performance and efficiency

Compiler and System Optimization

• Contribute to Qualcomm's ML compiler stack to improve performance, efficiency, scalability, and developer productivity.

• Explore and prototype optimization techniques for emerging AI workloads and state-of-the-art neural network architectures.

• Analyze ML workloads to help guide future hardware and software feature development.

Performance Modeling and Simulation

• Develop performance models and simulation infrastructure using Python, C, and C++.

• Evaluate current and future Qualcomm AI accelerators and predict workload performance before silicon is available.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Python or C++

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Detail-oriented with a passion for solving complex technical problems

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong knowledge of Python and/or C/C++

• Familiarity with object-oriented design principles

• Experience with software development tools and workflows, including Git, CI/CD systems, Linux, and SSH

• Experience with Algorithms and Data Structures

• Coursework, Research, or Project Experience in one or more of the following:

  • Machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, ONNX, TensorFlow, or JAX

  • Model optimization and deployment

  • Large language models (LLMs), generative AI, or multimodal AI

  • AI accelerator architecture (NPU, GPU, DSP, or related architecture)

  • Computer architecture and memory systems

  • Performance modeling, simulation, and profiling

  • Operating systems and systems software

  • High-performance computing

Education Requirements:

• In study towards a bachelor’s degree in one of the following: Engineering Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Computer Science, or related field

• For 16-month internships: must be available May/June 2027 - August/September 2028

• Expected graduation date of November 2028 or later.

Qualcomm’s Internship Program

Our interns join world-class teams to help define and build what is next for mobility and the world. You’ll be paired with a mentor with visibility to your project and team, receive support from your manager, and have access to the entire Qualcomm employee community to ensure your success. To round out your internship, we host professional development workshops, social events, cross-functional speaker sessions, and an executive speaker series. In addition to competitive hourly pay and accrued vacation time, you will receive housing stipend to accommodate for the duration of your internship.

Application Process

We will review resumes on an ongoing basis, and a recruiter may reach out to you. Advancing candidates may be invited to complete a timed HackerRank challenge to evaluate their technical skill set.

Export Control Notice

This role may require an export license for candidates with citizenship in certain countries (see current country list below - subject to change). Qualcomm, like other companies, is experiencing significant delays in the export license process. Please be advised that if an export license is required, you may not be able to start work with Qualcomm until the license is granted, which may impact your ability to participate in the internship.

Countries requiring export: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, Cuba, Georgia, Hong Kong, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Macau, Moldova, Mongolia, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen.

Applicants: 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 [email protected] 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.

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.

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.

Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:

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.

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.