Principal Software Architect
BrainChip, Inc.
Laguna Hills, CA
Principal Software Architect
Define how developers build AI on next-generation hardware

At BrainChip, we’re building a new class of AI. Our neuromorphic processors are designed to process data the way the brain does, enabling ultra-efficient, real-time intelligence directly on devices.
We’re looking for a Principal Software Architect to define how developers interact with this technology.
This is not a typical platform role. You will own the full developer experience for our next-generation NPU, shaping how AI models are built, optimized, deployed, and run on neuromorphic hardware.
You’ll work directly with the CTO, compiler, and silicon teams to translate cutting-edge hardware capabilities into intuitive, high-performance software systems that developers actually want to use.
If you care about the intersection of AI, systems, and developer experience, this is a rare opportunity to define a new paradigm.
What you’ll own
- The end-to-end developer experience for building and deploying AI on BrainChip hardware
- The software layer that bridges neuromorphic silicon and real-world AI applications
- How developers optimize performance, power efficiency, and real-time inference
What you’ll do
- Architect and integrate a unified AI toolchain across compiler, runtime, IDE, and deployment
- Build a modern developer environment with LLM-assisted workflows and intelligent tooling
- Design profiling and observability systems tailored for real-time AI workloads
- Enable efficient deployment of AI models onto resource-constrained, edge devices
- Lead bootloader architecture and RTOS integration for AI-enabled systems
- Extend debugging and tracing capabilities to expose AI model behavior at runtime
- Partner with silicon and compiler teams to shape hardware-software co-design
- Use real-world AI workloads to influence architecture decisions and performance tradeoffs
What you bring
- 7+ years of experience in systems software, developer platforms, or low-level architecture
- Strong background in AI systems, embedded systems, or performance-critical software
- Experience building or integrating developer tools, compilers, or runtime environments
- Expertise in C or C++ with strong proficiency in Python
Strong experience in several of the following:
- AI or ML frameworks and model deployment workflows
- Compiler ecosystems such as LLVM or MLIR
- Debugging and profiling tools such as GDB, LLDB, eBPF
- Embedded systems and RTOS environments such as Zephyr or FreeRTOS
- IDE tooling such as VS Code extensions, LSP, or DAP
Nice to have
- Experience with edge AI, neuromorphic computing, or low-power inference
- Contributions to open-source developer tools or AI frameworks
- Experience integrating LLMs into developer workflows
- Background in robotics, embedded AI, or real-time systems
Why this role
- Define how developers build AI on a fundamentally new hardware architecture
- Work directly with leadership and influence product direction
- Solve challenges at the intersection of AI, systems, and hardware
- Be part of a team building real-world AI that runs beyond the cloud