Junior Software Analysis and Optimization Engineer

Junior Software Performance Analysis and Optimization Engineer

Intel Corporation | Posted Feb 23, 2026

Full-time

Hillsboro

Entry (0-2 yrs)

Intel put Silicon in Silicon Valley. No one else is obsessed with engineering and has a brighter future. Every day, we create world changing technology that enriches the lives of every person on earth. So, if you have a big idea, let's do something wonderful together. Join us, because at Intel, we are building a better tomorrow.

Become part of Intel's VMware Center of Excellence, a specialized team focused on optimizing virtualization software performance on Intel server platforms and accelerators. Our team drives critical performance innovations that enable customers to maximize the value of their data center investments. We work at the intersection of hardware and software, ensuring Intel platforms deliver exceptional performance for virtualized workloads across enterprise and cloud environments.

This role is in the Software and AI group as a Software Performance Analysis and Optimization Engineer. Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Working cross-functionally with software, firmware, and silicon teams to define performance targets and optimization methodologies
• Conducting performance and power analysis using industry-standard benchmarks and customer workloads
• Identifying performance bottlenecks and optimization opportunities in virtualization software stacks
• Developing and enhancing innovative tools for performance analysis using C/C++, Python, and modern AI technologies
• Creating performance optimization guidance for operating systems, hypervisors, and related software components
• Documenting performance best practices and optimization guides for internal teams and external stakeholders
• Supporting customers and OEMs in optimizing their virtualized systems and software configurations
• Providing silicon design and firmware teams with performance insights and optimization recommendations
  
  Driving performance improvements that advance the state of the art in virtualization efficiency
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Minimum Qualifications

• The candidate must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or STEM related field with at least 1+ years of relevant experience
  -OR
  - Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or STEM related field
• 6+ months of coursework or experience in software development using Python, C, and C++
• 6+ months of coursework or experience of Operating System architecture, including system-level development and optimization specifically the scheduler, IO and memory sub-systems
• 6+ months of coursework or experience of CPU/GPU architecture and hardware virtualization

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge in x86
• Experience with compilers and optimization techniques
• Industry experience in engineering roles for HW/SW development (including internships)
• Familiarity with performance analysis tools and methodologies
• Experience with virtualization technologies (VMware, Hyper‑V, KVM and Xen, or similar)
• Knowledge of Confidential Computing
• Understanding benchmarking and workload characterization
• Knowledge of Linux system administration and performance tuning

College Grad

Shift 1 (United States of America)

US, Arizona, Phoenix

US, California, Santa Clara; US, Oregon, Hillsboro

The Software Team drives customer value by enabling differentiated experiences through leadership AI technologies and foundational software stacks, products, and services. The group is responsible for developing the holistic strategy for client and data center software in collaboration with OSVs, ISVs, developers, partners and OEMs. The group delivers specialized NPU IP to enable the AI PC and GPU IP to support all of Intel's market segments.

The group also has HW and SW engineering experts responsible for delivering IP, SOCs, runtimes, and platforms to support the CPU and GPU/accelerator roadmap, inclusive of integrated and discrete graphics.

All qualified…