# Hardware Design Engineer, AI Inference Engine - Company: [Elastix]() - Location: Seattle - Remote: Yes - Team: Engineering - Employment type: Full Time - Posted: February 19, 2026 ## Job description ### **About Elastix AI** We are building the next-gen AI inference platform. ### **Description** **Location:** Seattle, WA (Hybrid - 3 days/week in office) **About ElastixAI:** ElastixAI is an early-stage startup poised to revolutionize AI inference infrastructure. We are developing a cutting-edge AI inference solution that dramatically improves efficiency through a holistic co-design approach, spanning from machine learning optimizations and a highly specialized software stack to the inference engine and underlying cloud hardware. We believe in providing a customizable and optimal inference experience, much like tailoring a high-performance computing system to specific needs. **Role Summary:** We are seeking a visionary and hands-on Hardware Design Engineer to contribute to the design, definition, and implementation of our core AI inference engine. This is a deeply technical role where you will be instrumental in translating AI into a highly efficient hardware design. You will be at the center of our co-design philosophy, working to ensure our inference engine is perfectly harmonized with our ML strategies, software stack, and cloud hardware targets to deliver unparalleled performance and efficiency for next-generation AI models. **Key Responsibilities:** * Contribute to the architectural definition, design, and implementation of a novel AI inference engine optimized for our specific ML workloads. * Collaborate closely with ML engineers to understand and influence ML directions * Work hand-in-hand with software engineers to define a seamless hardware-software interface, ensuring the inference engine is highly programmable, efficient, and easy to integrate into our broader software stack and compiler. * Partner with cloud engineers to ensure the inference engine architecture aligns with target cloud hardware capabilities, deployment strategies, and performance/cost objectives. * Model and analyze the performance, power, and area (PPA) trade-offs of different architectural choices. * Stay at the forefront of AI accelerator research, identifying emerging techniques and technologies relevant to our co-design approach. * Contribute to the RTL design, simulation, and verification efforts for the inference engine components. * Drive the hardware roadmap for the inference engine, anticipating future AI model trends and optimization opportunities. * Foster a culture of innovation and technical excellence within a highly interdisciplinary engineering team. **Required Qualifications:** * BS, MS or PhD in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. * Proven experience (5+ years) in hardware design, with a strong focus on designing/implementing hardware for AI/ML acceleration. * Deep understanding of modern AI/ML models, particularly LLMs, and their computational characteristics. * Experience with hardware implementation of ML optimization techniques (e.g., sparsity, quantization, pruning). * Proficiency in Verilog or SystemVerilog for RTL design and simulation. * Strong understanding of memory system architecture, on-chip interconnects, parallel processing, and distributed computing. * Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex systems. * Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to work effectively in a highly interdisciplinary environment, collaborating with ML, software, and cloud/systems engineers. * Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment with a strong bias for action/execution **Preferred/Bonus Qualifications:** * Knowledge of compiler technologies for AI models (e.g., MLIR, TVM). * Familiarity with performance modeling and analysis tools. * Experience with system-level integration and debugging. * Contributions to relevant research publications or open-source projects. * Understanding of cloud computing environments and deploying hardware accelerators in the cloud. * High-speed inter-chip networking experience What We Offer: * A chance to be a foundational engineer in an innovative AI startup. * A dynamic and collaborative work environment and the change to have a significant impact on new technology * The opportunity to work on challenging problems at the intersection of ML, software, and systems. * Competitive compensation and startup equity package * Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage (100% paid by employer) * Flexible Time Off (FTO) * Paid parental leave * Company sponsored 401K Plan * Gym or fitness benefit * Commuter benefit * Investment in employee learning & development ## Apply [Apply on Elastix]() Canonical job page: