Okay, I've searched for Inference Software Engineer roles in San Jose within the AI industry, requiring expertise in distributed systems and proficiency in Rust or C++. The search also includes positions with a salary expectation of at least $150,000. I have found 75 relevant positions for you.

Sure. Here's the analysis:

Job Analysis:

The Inference Software Engineer - Collectives at Etched is fundamentally tasked with optimizing and formalizing collectives to enhance the performance of the Sohu AI chip systems. This role requires deep collaboration across systems and research teams to implement Mixture of Experts (MoE) architectures onto the Sohu platform. A successful candidate will focus on the intricate interplay between software and hardware, effectively mapping complex models onto a hardware-specific architecture, thereby contributing to groundbreaking performance levels in inference tasks. Challenges likely include navigating the complexities of distributed systems and ensuring robust error handling under high-performance demands. Success in this role can be measured by improvements in throughput, reduced latency, and the ability to enhance multi-node inference processes, directly impacting the company's capacity to meet the exponentially rising needs of its serving demands.

Company Analysis:

Etched occupies a pioneering position in the AI chip industry, specifically focused on creating custom ASICs for unique model architectures, making them a competitive player in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI hardware. Their commitment to building model-specific hardware indicates a culture that prizes innovation and technical prowess. Given the emphasis on engineers contributing to both development and research, the environment may be collaborative and intellectually stimulating, appealing to those who thrive on challenges and interdisciplinary involvement. The organizational structure appears to favor a flat hierarchy, where individual contributions are vital to the company’s strategic goals, potentially offering significant visibility to this role. The decision to maintain a fully in-person team further suggests a culture of direct collaboration, which can foster innovation and knowledge sharing but may also necessitate adaptability for those coming from remote work backgrounds.

Absolutely. Here are some mock interview questions that could come up:

• Tell me about a time when you had to optimize a software feature. What approach did you take and what were the results?
• Describe a challenging technical problem you faced in distributed systems. How did you resolve it?
• Can you give an example of how you successfully collaborated with a cross-functional team to achieve a project's objectives?
• Tell me about a time you had to analyze performance traces. What tools did you use, and what conclusions did you draw?
• How do you prioritize features when optimizing algorithms for high-performance systems?
• What experience do you have with designing collectives within distributed systems, and what challenges did you encounter?
• How would you optimize expert routing and communication layers for a new architecture like Sohu?
• Imagine you are faced with a situation where performance profiling indicates a significant bottleneck in one of the collectives. What steps would you take to diagnose and resolve the issue?
• If you were tasked with formalizing a new collective function for Sohu, what key factors would you consider?
• What drew you to Etched, and how do you think your values align with our mission?
• How do you feel about working within a fully in-person team? What experiences do you have that prepare you for this environment?
• What questions do you have about our approach to AI chip development or the technologies we utilize?