Senior Researcher in AI Computing Systems

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Through our constant dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, we have established leading end-to-end capabilities and strengths across the carrier networks, enterprise, consumer, and cloud computing fields. Our products and solutions have been deployed in over 170 countries serving more than one third of the world’s population.

With 20+ sites across Europe and 1500 researchers, Huawei’s European Research Institute (ERI) oversees fundamental and applied technology research, academic research cooperation projects, and strategic technical planning across our network of European R&D facilities. Huawei’s ERI includes the Zurich Research Center (ZRC), located in Zurich, Switzerland.

A major element of ZRC is a rapidly growing research laboratory focused on fundamental research in the area of computing systems (new hardware, new software, new algorithms).

The research work of the lab will be carried out not only by Huawei’s internal research staff but also by our academic research partners in universities across Europe. The lab provides an open research environment where academics will be encouraged to visit and work on fundamental long-term research alongside with Huawei staff across the globe in an environment that, like the best universities and research institutes, is open and conducive to such world-leading scientific work.

For the rapidly growing Computing Systems Lab at Zurich Research Center, we are looking for candidates for a senior researcher position.

Senior Researcher in AI Computing Systems

AI accelerators have revolutionized the field of deep learning by providing unprecedented levels of computational power optimized for matrix operations and neural network training. Huawei’s Ascend AI processors, equipped with the DaVinci architecture, incorporate matrix multiplication core units that deliver impressive AI processing capabilities, enhancing tasks like model training and inference.

We work on discovering the requirements and optimizations for the next generations of AI computing systems. Within the scope of this role, successful candidates should be interested in pushing the envelope on the state-of-the-art in algorithmic design, development and modeling for AI accelerators and entire AI computing systems. In particular, the research focus includes the following items:

1. Extend/propose models of computation that better capture today’s AI accelerators;
2. Design and develop novel high-performance algorithms tailored to Huawei’s Ascend accelerators;
3. Implement end-to-end algorithmic solutions and conduct in-depth performance evaluation of the proposed algorithms using the software stack of Huawei’s Ascend accelerator;
4. Bottleneck analysis & hardware architecture optimizations across from compute core to chiplet/chip all the way to rack and data center-level.

Responsibilities:

• Prototype/evaluate novel AI computing methods to understand the computing requirements and predict future customer needs.
• Develop novel compute architecture concepts and algorithm optimizations to maximize performance and energy efficiency
• Research new fundamental technologies for AI computing
• Collaborate with researchers and experts locally within Huawei Zurich, at Swiss and European universities, and with Huawei product teams and research labs around the world.
• Ensure protection of novel methods (file patents) as well as produce and present research papers at internationally leading conferences and events to drive global state-of-the-art and build the openly available AI infrastructure ecosystem.

Requirements:

• A PhD in an area related to computer architecture and/or AI algorithms for performance optimization, or equivalent research experience in industry is required.

• At least 6 years of R&D experience in one or a combination of the following areas: AI algorithms, high-performance SW development, hardware accelerator design

• Record of publishing research papers in computer architecture, AI hardware & algorithm acceleration and high-performance (SW) kernel development and/or related areas

• Ability to work independently in a research-intensive environment, including defining research problems, identifying potential solutions to these problems, and evaluating them using an appropriate methodology
• Candidates should have research experience and strong cross-domain knowledge in the following areas:
• Computer architecture: microarchitecture, memory system, interconnect
• Hardware Accelerators: design space exploration (DSE), architecture adjustments and VLSI design
• AI algorithms & evaluation
• Low-level/near-hardware operator/software performance profiling & software optimization
• Heterogeneous Architectures and Systems for Datacenters and Cloud
• Excellent communication skills in English (both written and spoken)
• Ability to engage with a multicultural team both locally and across multiple global sites
• Ability to propose novel directions for strategic innovation
• Candidates with solid academic record in a reputable university and with experience in working in blue chip technology companies are preferred

Creativity and excellent communication ability in English are key. Willingness to learn new concepts and technologies is also crucial.

What we offer

At the Zurich Research Center, the successful candidate becomes part of a multicultural team of leading European researchers with expertise spanning from computer microarchitecture to mathematics. We believe such breadth is crucial to succeed in our mission to drive new fundamental research and achieve new innovate breakthroughs in future computing systems. If this speaks to you, please be sure to apply!