Low Level Software Engineer (SPU)

Posted Yesterday
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Redwood City, CA, USA
In-Office
130K-190K Annually
Mid level
Hardware • Software • Biotech
Vorticity is re-imagining scientific computing from custom-built software all the way down to processor architecture.
The Role
Implement and prototype numerical linear algebra kernels and libraries for a new Scientific Processing Unit (SPU). Translate math algorithms into performant software, write C/C++/Python reference implementations, and collaborate with hardware, compiler, and runtime teams to evaluate algorithm-architecture tradeoffs and optimize parallel execution and memory behavior.
Summary Generated by Built In

Vorticity is building the world’s first Scientific Processing Unit (SPU), a new class of silicon purpose-built to accelerate scientific computing beyond the limits of GPUs. We are designing tightly coupled software–hardware systems around applied mathematics workloads to deliver order-of-magnitude performance gains. Unlocking its full potential requires early, deep engagement from applied mathematics–driven software engineers who can translate real-world scientific workloads into executable models, kernels, libraries, and applications that inform both architecture and tooling decisions.

From day one, you will help build the numerical software foundation of the SPU. The ideal candidate is excited to implement mathematics on a new architecture. You will work closely with hardware architects, compiler engineers, and runtime engineers to shape how numerical algorithms are expressed, executed, and optimized on the SPU. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys moving fluidly between applied math, numerical algorithms, and parallel programming, and who wants to help build a new scientific computing platform from the ground up.

 
Responsibilities
  • Prototype and implement core numerical linear algebra kernels and libraries for the SPU.

  • Translate mathematical algorithms into executable, performance-relevant software.

  • Write C, C++, and Python reference implementations to guide hardware, compiler, and runtime decisions.

  • Collaborate with hardware architects, compiler engineers, and runtime teams to evaluate algorithm–architecture tradeoffs and ensure numerical primitives map cleanly to the SPU programming model.

Core Skills:
  • Strong foundation in applied mathematics, numerical linear algebra, and scientific computing, with the ability to turn mathematical ideas into correct and efficient software.

  • Strong proficiency in C, C++, and Python.

  • Comfort working close to hardware and writing performance-critical, low-level code.

  • Experience with parallel or accelerator programming models such as CUDA, OpenMP, MPI, SYCL, HIP, or similar.

  • Ability to reason about memory layouts, cache behavior, bandwidth, arithmetic intensity, and parallel execution.

  • Solid understanding of concurrency fundamentals, including race conditions, atomics, synchronization, and thread/process behavior.

Nice to Have Skills:
  • Familiarity with numerical computing libraries such as BLAS, LAPACK, FFTW, Eigen, SuiteSparse, PETSc, cuBLAS, cuSOLVER, cuSPARSE, cuFFT, or similar.

  • Experience building numerical libraries, solvers, scientific computing frameworks, or HPC infrastructure.

  • Familiarity with performance analysis tools or modeling techniques, including profilers, roofline models, hardware counters, or analytical performance models.

  • Exposure to compilers, runtimes, code generation frameworks, or domain-specific languages for numerical computing.

  • Experience applying numerical methods in scientific domains such as physics, geophysics, CFD, climate, materials, fusion, or finance.

Non-Technical Qualities:
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Comfort operating in an early-stage environment where the hardware, compiler, and software stack are evolving together.

  • Willingness to put in the hard work needed to bring the SPU to life.

  • Above all: low ego.

As passionate scientists and engineers, we are well aware of the plethora of critical problems in the world that cannot be solved because humanity simply does not have enough computing power. To address this, Vorticity is developing a radically new silicon chip architecture and system to dramatically accelerate scientific computing problems.

Vorticity’s mission is to expand human ingenuity. To do that we are building a team of exceptional people to work together on big problems. Join us!

Skills Required

  • Strong foundation in applied mathematics, numerical linear algebra, and scientific computing
  • Proficiency in C, C++, and Python
  • Comfort working close to hardware and writing performance-critical, low-level code
  • Experience with parallel or accelerator programming models such as CUDA, OpenMP, MPI, SYCL, or HIP
  • Ability to reason about memory layouts, cache behavior, bandwidth, arithmetic intensity, and parallel execution
  • Solid understanding of concurrency fundamentals, including race conditions, atomics, synchronization, and thread/process behavior
  • Familiarity with numerical computing libraries (BLAS, LAPACK, FFTW, Eigen, SuiteSparse, PETSc, cuBLAS, cuSOLVER, cuSPARSE, cuFFT)
  • Experience building numerical libraries, solvers, scientific computing frameworks, or HPC infrastructure
  • Familiarity with performance analysis tools or modeling techniques (profilers, roofline models, hardware counters)
  • Exposure to compilers, runtimes, code generation frameworks, or DSLs for numerical computing
  • Experience applying numerical methods in scientific domains (physics, CFD, climate, materials, fusion, finance)
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to operate in an early-stage, evolving hardware/software environment

Vorticity Inc. Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Vorticity Inc. and has not been reviewed or approved by Vorticity Inc..

  • Flexible Benefits Flexible hours, locations, and PTO are offered, supporting diverse work-life needs. These arrangements are explicitly highlighted as part of a "world-class benefits experience."
  • Healthcare Strength Health insurance is included as a core benefit. Company materials frame the package as designed to enhance employee health and wellbeing.
  • Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits Free meals are provided, adding daily convenience and lifestyle support. Benefits messaging emphasizes making it easy to take good care of oneself now and in the future.

Vorticity Inc. Insights

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The Company
HQ: Redwood City, California

What We Do

Vorticity Inc. is redefining how the world tackles complex scientific and engineering problems. We design and build the full technology stack — from custom silicon to cloud-accessible software platforms — to accelerate physics-based simulation and data-intensive computation across industries. Our mission is to dramatically reduce the time and cost of scientific discovery by re-thinking every layer of the compute stack. We develop specialized processors and distributed systems optimized for solving large-scale partial differential equations (PDEs), enabling simulations that were once limited to supercomputers to run efficiently in the cloud. Our technology is used in aerospace, energy, geophysics, and life sciences, helping teams design faster, explore deeper, and understand more — from mapping mineral resources to modeling hypersonic flight or molecular dynamics. At Vorticity, we believe that innovation happens at the intersection of science, mathematics, and engineering. That’s why our team includes experts in computational physics, high-performance computing, and chip design, all working together to push the boundaries of what’s possible in simulation. Our ultimate goal: to make world-class scientific computing accessible, scalable, and transformative — empowering researchers and engineers everywhere to move from ideas to breakthroughs faster than ever before.

Why Work With Us

Vorticity is a place for people who love to solve hard problems — the kind that shape the future of science and technology. We’re building a team-first culture where curiosity, rigor, and creativity thrive.

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