Trainium (NKI) Kernel Expert
About this role
Evaluate the quality, correctness, and hardware-appropriateness of Neuron Kernel Interface (NKI) development tasks used to train and evaluate a frontier AI lab's models. You'll assess CUDA→NKI migration fidelity, Trainium-specific performance-optimization quality, and cross-platform numerical-correctness standards, and provide clear, rubric-based written feedback.
Basic Qualifications
- 2+ years of hands-on experience developing or optimizing kernels using the Neuron Kernel Interface (NKI) targeting AWS Trainium/Inferentia2 hardware
- Strong understanding of NKI-specific development patterns: tile-based computation, SBUF/PSUM/HBM memory-hierarchy management, partition-dimension constraints, and DMA orchestration
- Demonstrated experience assessing CUDA→NKI migration quality
- Familiarity with Trainium-specific performance profiling (NeuronCore pipeline utilization, tensor-engine throughput, memory-bandwidth bottlenecks)
- Experience defining or evaluating cross-platform numerical-correctness standards (GPU vs Trainium accumulation order, rounding behavior, mixed-precision semantics)
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct experience with AWS Neuron SDK, Neuron Compiler internals, or contributions to NKI kernel libraries
- Prior CUDA or Triton kernel development
- Familiarity with Trainium hardware specifications (NeuronCore-v2 architecture, on-chip SRAM topology, supported data types: FP32/BF16/FP8/INT8)
- Experience benchmarking ML training workloads on Trn1/Trn2 instances
Details
- Pay: $70 to $90/hr
- Company: Mercor
- Location: Remote
- Eligible locations: United States
- Platform: Mercor
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Trainium (NKI) Kernel Expert role pay?
Mercor lists this Trainium (NKI) Kernel Expert position at $70 to $90/hr. Pay is set by Mercor and your exact offer depends on your experience and the scope of the work.
Is the Trainium (NKI) Kernel Expert role remote, and can I work from home?
Yes. Mercor lists this Trainium (NKI) Kernel Expert position as fully remote, so you can work from home or anywhere with a reliable computer and internet connection.
Is Trainium (NKI) Kernel Expert full time or part time?
Mercor lists this as a contractor remote role. Full details are in the role description above.
Which countries can apply for Trainium (NKI) Kernel Expert?
Mercor lists eligibility for United States. Check the Mercor listing for current requirements before applying.
Do I need experience to apply for Trainium (NKI) Kernel Expert?
The requirements are listed in the role description above. Mercor screens applicants through its own process, and relevant skills or credentials strengthen your application.
How do I apply for the Trainium (NKI) Kernel Expert role, and is it legit?
Use the apply button on this page to go straight to the official Mercor listing. Mercor is a real hiring marketplace and applying is free. No legitimate employer charges you to apply.
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