Engineering Manager, Backend Compiler

OLIX•San Francisco, CA

2d•£286,000 - £350,000

About The Position

AI is growing faster than any technology in history and the explosion in demand has created a massive infrastructure gap; we can no longer build chips or power stations fast enough to keep up. The industry is still leaning on a ten-year-old hardware blueprint that has reached its limit. A new paradigm that is faster and more efficient will be the biggest economic opportunity of the next century and create the most important company of the next decade. OLIX is building this next paradigm; the Optical Tensor Processing Unit (OTPU) achieves performance and energy efficiency that is impossible to match from existing chips. AI is growing faster than any technology in history and the explosion in demand has created a massive infrastructure gap; we can no longer build chips or power stations fast enough to keep up. The industry is still leaning on a ten-year-old hardware blueprint that has reached its limit. A new paradigm that is faster and more efficient will be the biggest economic opportunity of the next century and create the most important company of the next decade. OLIX is building this next paradigm; the Optical Tensor Processing Unit (OTPU) achieves performance and energy efficiency that is impossible to match from existing chips. As Engineering Manager, Backend Compiler, you will lead a high-impact team of 6 engineers responsible for building and optimizing the OTPU compiler backend. You will partner closely with frontend compiler, architecture, and ASIC teams for agile hardware-software co-design and ensure your team maximizes hardware performance while maintaining production-quality. We are looking for an experienced engineering manager to lead an outstanding team of engineers to deliver direct customer and business outcomes. You bring deep technical judgment and a track record of building healthy teams that execute decisively at pace with tight cross-functional collaboration across disciplines.

Requirements

Proven engineering leadership delivering complex long-term projects in ambiguous, fast-moving with direct accountability for the team's execution.
Deep technical experience in backend compiler development for distributed dataflow architectures, including scheduling, lowering, and memory orchestration, with strong hardware expertise enabling effective hardware-software co-design.
People leader who coaches, develops, and empowers engineers and managers alike to perform at their best.

Responsibilities

Own and deliver the roadmap for OLIX’s compiler backend to OLIX’s core business objectives and timeline to maximize customer and business outcomes.
Build a healthy, high-performance culture that balances innovation, speed, and operational excellence.
Establish a culture of technical excellence, establishing strong design review practices, clear technical ownership, and predictable execution in a fast-moving hardware/software co-design environment.
Partner closely with compiler, architecture, and digital ASIC teams for tight hardware-software co-design that will ensure highly reliable compilation that maximizes hardware performance and usability.
Guide technical decision making to ensure long-term sustainability is balanced with short-term deliveries.

Benefits

Competitive Salary: $286,000–$350,000, commensurate with your experience, skills, and location.
Equity & Ownership: Meaningful stock options. You’re not just joining the mission; you’re owning a piece of it.
Proximity Bonus: We value your time. To minimise your commute and maximise your life, we offer a $36k annual Living-Local Bonus if your residence is within 20 minutes of the office.
Time Off: 33 days of paid time off (PTO), including US federal holidays.
Healthcare Coverage: Multiple high-quality medical plan options, including family coverage.
Health Savings Account: A high-deductible medical option with a company-funded health savings account (HSA).
Dental & Vision: Dental and vision coverage.
Additional Coverage: Life insurance, plus short- and long-term disability.
Wellbeing Support: Mental health resources, fertility and family-building support.
Commuter Benefits: Pre-tax commuter and parking benefits.
401(k): Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% employer match, with both traditional and Roth contribution options. Employees also have access to a dedicated financial advisor to support portfolio selection and long-term planning.
M4 Macs come as standard, with M4 Pro upgrades for our engineering team. We will provide whatever you need to do your best work.
High-spec noise-cancelling headphones and a fully ergonomic workstation designed for deep focus.
Rapid Prototyping: Access to our high-performance 3D printing lab for work, experimentation, and personal creative projects.
Chef-prepared meals: if you need to work late.
Visa Sponsorship: We hire the best in the world. We offer full UK and international visa sponsorship.
Seamless Relocation: Whether you’re moving across the country or across the globe, our dedicated relocation partner provides funding and concierge support to get you settled.