Software Engineering Director - Compiler & Architecture

About OLIX

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.

Role

As Engineering Director, Compiler & Architecture, you will lead the organization (scaling to 24 ICs and 4 Managers) responsible for continuing to refine our OTPU architecture and partnering with other teams to translate it into real, reliable, and repeatable performance gains for customers.

We are looking for a senior engineering leader to help shape where OLIX is going, not just how we get there. You bring deep technical judgment and a proven ability to build high-performing organizations that move with pace and conviction. You'll set the technical direction, define what matters and why, and create the conditions for outstanding engineers and engineering managers to do their best work.

Responsibilities

• Set the vision and long-term direction for Compiler and Architecture organization - spanning all aspects of compiler development (frontend, middle-end, backend), and cycle-accurate performance modelling team -holding the organisation accountable for delivering against it.

• Build and lead a high-performing Compiler & Architecture organisation. Develop managers who take genuine ownership of customer outcomes and reliability, not just delivery metrics.

• Define what technical excellence looks like at scale. Establish the architectural principles, review cadences, and quality standards the organisation operates by,

• Shape the technical direction for ML inference on OLIX hardware, partnering closely with the ASIC and FPGA teams for hardware-software co-design - making hard calls on where to invest.

• Translate long-term business direction into clear priorities to maximize customer and business outcomes, and shutting down work that does not.

• Build a healthy, high-performance culture that balances innovation, speed, and operational excellence.

Skills & Experience

• Proven engineering leadership delivering complex, company-level initiatives in ambiguous, fast-moving with direct accountability for senior managers and multi-team execution.

• Scaling expertise, including org design, hiring senior talent, and growing strong managers.

• Deep technical experience in compilers and architectures for distributed ML inference (LLVM, MLIR, Shardy, XLA/OpenXLA, SystemC)

• Outstanding communicator and recruiter, able to articulate a compelling technical vision, attracting and closing top-tier talent.

• People leader who coaches, develops, and empowers engineers and managers alike to perform at their best.

Compensation & Equity

• Competitive Salary: £352,000+, 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 £24k annual Living-Local Bonus if your residence is within 20 minutes of the office.

Health & Wellbeing

• Premium Healthcare: Comprehensive BUPA medical and dental cover, including Medical History Disregarded (MHD), for complete peace of mind.

• Time Off: 25 days of annual leave, plus all UK bank holidays.

The Workspace & Tech

• Elite Hardware: M4 Macs come as standard, with M4 Pro upgrades for our engineering team. We will provide whatever you need to do your best work.

• Optimal Environment: 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.

Life at the Office

• Chef-prepared meals: if you need to work late.

• Caffeine on Us: We’ve got you covered with a tab at our favourite local coffee shop.

Relocation & Global Mobility

• 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.

Due to U.S. export control regulations, candidates’ eligibility to work at OLIX depends on their most recent citizenship or permanent residency status. We are generally unable to consider applicants whose most recent citizenship or permanent residence is in certain restricted countries (currently including Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Venezuela). Applicants who have subsequently obtained citizenship or permanent residency in another country not subject to these restrictions may still be eligible.