Senior Compiler Performance Engineer

About the Role

At Azul, Falcon serves as the optimizing just-in-time (JIT) compiler for the Azul Platform Prime, transforming frequently executed Java bytecode into highly efficient machine code to achieve performance beyond conventional JVMs. Built upon LLVM, Falcon is a mature production-ready system deployed at major enterprises. We are seeking a Senior Compiler Performance Engineer who will take charge of key performance aspects of Falcon, enhancing its code generation capabilities, selecting impactful optimizations, and delivering tangible performance improvements on real-world workloads.

You will join a globally distributed group of compiler specialists with significant influence over Falcon's optimization roadmap.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of Falcon's performance in specific workloads or optimization domains through thorough analysis, design, implementation, and validation.
• Develop new optimizations and refine existing ones within the compiler's middle and back ends, covering areas such as inlining heuristics, loop transformations, vectorization, escape analysis, speculation, deoptimization, GC barrier improvements, and runtime call optimization.
• Enhance code generation quality targeting x86_64 and AArch64 architectures, and extend Falcon's support to new hardware platforms.
• Investigate complex performance problems raised by customers, converting findings into actionable compiler improvements.
• Conduct code reviews, mentor team members, and elevate the overall standards of performance engineering methodology.
• Contribute upstream to the LLVM project when applicable to improve compiler technology.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• At least 5 years of professional experience in developing optimizing or JIT compilers.
• Strong expertise in C++ design and coding within large-scale codebases.
• Proven success delivering compiler optimizations with measurable enhancements in performance.
• In-depth understanding of compiler optimization concepts and their practical considerations such as compile time, code footprint, and correctness.
• Advanced skills in performance analysis tools including profilers, hardware counters, and in-depth examination of generated assembly code.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience with LLVM optimization passes or code generation; having LLVM commit privileges is advantageous.
• Familiarity with JIT compilers for managed runtime environments like HotSpot C2, Graal, V8, or .NET RyuJIT.
• Deep understanding of microarchitectures for x86_64 and/or AArch64 platforms.
• Knowledge of JVM internals such as garbage collection, deoptimization mechanisms, and profiling.
• A PhD in Computer Science or significant research background in compilers.

Additional Information

We may employ artificial intelligence tools in parts of the recruitment process, such as application review and resume analysis, to assist our recruitment team. However, all final hiring decisions are made by human evaluators. To learn more about how your data is handled, please contact us directly.