Software Architect & Team lead

About Us : AI compute is hitting a hard physical wall, and memory bottlenecks are throttling the entire industry. Founded in October 2024 and backed by €57M in funding, Vertical Compute is solving this with proprietary Vertical Integrated Memory (VIM™) chiplets, making AI hardware faster, greener, and vastly more scalable. We are an interdisciplinary team transforming breakthrough semiconductor physics into commercial reality.
Why Now : After 18 months of intensive R&D, Vertical Compute has reached a critical inflection point. Our underlying technology is validated, and we have successfully met our core technical milestones. Armed with a proven technical data package and ongoing system studies, we are now shifting from pure R&D to active engagement with global enterprise customers. As we prepare for our next phase of scale and growth starting in 2027, joining us today means taking direct ownership of the hardware foundation that will power the next era of AI compute.
About the role:
We are looking for a Software Architect & Team Lead to drive the definition, architecture, and delivery of our software stack and AI toolchain for Vertical Compute's 3D-integrated chiplets. In this role, you will be responsible for defining the complete software architecture across all layers-including low-level software, device drivers, AI compiler, and higher-level AI application. You will co-design the software-hardware solution, working in close collaboration with the hardware and memory design teams to optimize AI workloads to demonstrate the full potential of our proprietary Vertical Integrated Memory (VIM™) technology. You will also manage and mentor the software engineering team ensuring efficient development.
Key Responsibilities:

• Software Architecture & System Definition: Define and architect the multi-layer software stack, including device drivers, low-level software, AI compiler/toolchain, and AI application framework interfaces tailored for VIM™ memory technology.
• Hardware/Software Co-Design: Partner closely with the hardware, system architecture, and memory engineering teams to co-optimize HW/SW interfaces based on AI application requirements and memory bandwidth capabilities.
• Team Leadership & Methodology: Lead, mentor, and grow the software development team, embedding Agile methodologies, robust CI/CD practices, and GitLab-based workflows to ensure high-quality software delivery.
• End-to-End Execution: Oversee the software development lifecycle from initial specification to validation, silicon bring-up support, and deployment for enterprise AI workloads.

About the team:
This role leads the Software Application & Compiler team within Vertical Compute's Product & System organization, partnering closely with cross-functional engineering teams in Hardware Design, Memory Design, and System Architecture. We foster a highly collaborative, transparent, and inclusive environment where strong technical alignment and continuous innovation are central to solving the industry's memory bottleneck.
About who you are:

• 10+ years of experience in system software engineering, AI compiler development, or low-level software architecture, with demonstrated experience leading software teams.
• Degree (B.S., M.S., or Ph.D.) in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Deep technical expertise in software architecture design across low-level software, device drivers, AI compiler infrastructure (e.g., TVM, MLIR, LLVM), and AI application integration.
• Proven track record of managing engineering teams using Agile/Scrum processes, CI/CD tools, and GitLab workflows.
• Strong understanding of hardware/software co-design, hardware acceleration, and AI workloads.
• Fluency in English with excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Location: Grenoble (France)