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Ask HN: Are compiler engineers still in demand, and what do they work on?

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Re: Ask HN: Are compiler engineers still in demand, and what do they work on?

#21

Post by logcrater »

deepnotderp wrote: post #19
logcrater wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there a way I can integrate Machine Learning to Compiler stuff? I've been meddling with ml for a while and it's pretty interesting too.

Certainly! We do so :)

Can you elaborate on that please? Like how do they merge together? I am really interested in those two fields

Re: Ask HN: Are compiler engineers still in demand, and what do they work on?

#22

Post by archi42 »

Google234 wrote: post #6

Intel, IBM, Nvidia, Google, Red Hat, and MSFT are all currently hiring complier engineers. Experience with LLVM is probably useful for many of those opportunities. https://us-redhat.icims.com/jobs/75775/software-engineer---l... https://nvidia.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/NVIDIAExternalCareerSit... https://careers.ibm.com/ShowJob/Id/764855/Software-Developer...

I second this: My alma mater (in Germany) has a compiler group, and, as far as I'm aware, at least some of its alumni went to the companies mentioned by parent.

Re: Ask HN: Are compiler engineers still in demand, and what do they work on?

#24

Post by travolter »

Obfuscators, I work for a company that builds mobile obfuscation at a compiler level (LLVM ir and Java bytecode). There are also gaming companies that use similar techniques and technology for anti cheat engines.

I also often see job postings for compiler developers in the embedded field.

Re: Ask HN: Are compiler engineers still in demand, and what do they work on?

#25

Post by pjmlp »

logcrater wrote: post #21
deepnotderp wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Certainly! We do so :)

Can you elaborate on that please? Like how do they merge together? I am really interested in those two fields

Check what LLVM is doing with the MLIR project.

https://blog.tensorflow.org/2019/04/mlir-new-intermediate-re...

https://llvm.org/devmtg/2019-04/talks.html

Re: Ask HN: Are compiler engineers still in demand, and what do they work on?

#27

Post by kstenerud »

Check out http://www.compilerworks.com

I worked there for awhile but compilers aren't really my thing. They're building cool stuff, though. Their tech converts database queries between dialects, and can even run as a translating proxy (for example, run Oracle code on Postgres) and provide performance insights into your code. Their clients are big name companies who need to maintain millions of lines of DB code.

Re: Ask HN: Are compiler engineers still in demand, and what do they work on?

#28

Post by ibains »

I’ve worked in compilers (optimizations) at Microsoft (vc++) and NVIDIA(CUDA) - register allocators, schedulers and loop optimizers were super fun.

Then I worked on database (query) compilers. I managed Apache Hive at Hortonworks, and that has a compiler. These are very different beasts.

Now, my startup is working on code analysis and cross compilers for data engineering, including Spark.

Some of my colleagues are working in AI chip startups.

It’s hard to find high quality engineers in both kinds of compilers. Just like database internals engineers there is high demand.

Plug - I’m hiring at Prophecy.io for compiler engineers.

Re: Ask HN: Are compiler engineers still in demand, and what do they work on?

#29

Post by kolinko »

A lot of work with compilers in blockchain/Ethereum.

But if you're considering an education choice, don't overspecialise. You will most likely change specialisation in 5-10 years (different market, different technology), so if all you know is just compiler engineering, it will be way tougher for you.

Also, make sure you learn a lot about algorithms / computer science in general. If you know that, switching engineering fields will be easy.

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