Performance Modeling Lead (AI)

TL;DR

Performance Modeling Lead (AI Infrastructure): Building and leading a performance modeling framework to evaluate system-level tradeoffs for advanced AI workloads with an accent on compute, memory, and networking. Focus on influencing reference architectures and vendor designs to optimize long-term AI infrastructure strategy.

Location: Must be based in or be able to relocate to San Francisco or Seattle (Hybrid: 3 days in office)

Salary: $342,000 – $555,000 + Equity

Company

hirify.global is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity.

What you will do

• Build and own a performance modeling framework to evaluate AI systems across multiple levels of abstraction.
• Analyze and quantify architectural tradeoffs across compute, memory, networking, and storage.
• Develop models to guide decisions on scale-up vs. scale-out architectures and system balance.
• Translate modeling outputs into actionable recommendations for internal teams and external hardware vendors.
• Lead and grow a small team of engineers, setting technical direction and maintaining modeling rigor.
• Validate modeling fidelity by comparing results against real system behavior and measurements.

Requirements

• Experience building performance modeling frameworks that drive real system design decisions.
• Deep knowledge of AI/ML workloads, including training and inference at scale.
• Strong understanding of system-level tradeoffs in large-scale distributed systems.
• Ability to work across abstraction layers, from workload behavior to hardware implementation.
• Experience using analytical or simulation modeling to inform architectural decisions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and influence both internal teams and external partners.

Nice to have

• Experience working with hardware vendors (ODM/JDM, silicon, networking).
• Background in data center infrastructure or hyperscale systems.
• Familiarity with accelerators (GPUs/ASICs) and interconnects like NVLink, InfiniBand, or Ethernet.
• Prior experience leading or mentoring engineers.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work model requiring 3 days in the office per week.
• Relocation assistance provided.
• Competitive compensation including equity.
• Opportunity to shape next-generation AI systems and infrastructure.