Our Company

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Through our constant dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, we have established leading end-to-end capabilities and strengths across the carrier networks, enterprise, consumer, and cloud computing fields. Our products and solutions have been deployed in over 170 countries serving more than one third of the world’s population.

With 20+ sites across Europe and 1500 researchers, Huawei’s European Research Institute (ERI) oversees fundamental and applied technology research, academic research cooperation projects, and strategic technical planning across our network of European R&D facilities. Huawei’s ERI includes the Zurich Research Center (ZRC), located in Zurich, Switzerland.

A major element of ZRC is a rapidly growing research laboratory focused on fundamental research in the area of computing systems (new hardware, new software, new algorithms).

The research work of the lab will be carried out not only by Huawei’s internal research staff but also by our academic research partners in universities across Europe. The lab provides an open research environment where academics will be encouraged to visit and work on fundamental long-term research alongside with Huawei staff in an environment that, like the best universities and research institutes, is open and conducive to such world-leading scientific work.

Our Research Center

AI accelerators have revolutionized the field of deep learning by providing unprecedented levels of computational power optimized for matrix operations and neural network training. Huawei’s Ascend AI processors, equipped with the DaVinci architecture, incorporate matrix multiplication core units that deliver impressive AI processing capabilities, enhancing tasks like model training and inference.

For the ZRC Laboratory, we are seeking a highly motivated intern with a passion for AI and machine learning to work on automated hardware design optimization. This internship offers hands-on experience in developing AI-driven solutions that integrate with hardware design workflows to create an optimization loop.

You will focus primarily on the AI/ML aspects of the optimization process, helping design and implement algorithms that automate the improvement of hardware architectures based on performance metrics. You will collaborate with engineers and researchers in both hardware design and software development.

The successful candidates will have a unique opportunity to apply their ideas on Huawei’s next generation AI Accelerators (Ascend) and acquire knowledge of the AI accelerator’s software stack. Additionally, we offer the opportunity to implement and benchmark the performance of the promising design by collaborating with the Ascend design team. Any breakthrough made throughout this internship can lead to direct adoption within the next generation product, patenting and/or scientific publication in international machine learning or systems conferences.

Your Responsibilities

• Develop, improve, and train machine learning models to optimize hardware design parameters.
• Assist in the design and implementation of AI-driven algorithms for iterative hardware improvements.
• Analyze performance data and feedback loops to refine AI models and decision-making processes.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to understand design constraints and objectives.
• Participate in the integration of AI modules with existing design tools and workflows.
• Contribute to the development of simulations and benchmarking methods for testing AI models in real-world hardware environments.
• Prepare reports and documentation on AI model performance, optimizations, and design iterations.

Required Skills

• Educational Background: Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a Master’s Degree or Ph.D. in Data Science, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Programming Skills: Proficiency in Python, with experience in with PyTorch, and Pytorch-Lightning frameworks.
• Machine Learning: Familiarity with supervised and unsupervised learning techniques, model optimization, and evaluation methods.
• Mathematical Knowledge: Understanding of optimization algorithms (e.g., genetic algorithms, gradient descent) and statistical methods.
• Data Analysis: Experience working with large datasets, feature engineering, and data pre-processing for ML models.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to troubleshoot AI/ML models.

Desired Additional Skills

• Interest in Hardware Design: A desire to explore how AI can revolutionize hardware design processes.
• Experience with AI-driven optimization loops or reinforcement learning.
• Understanding of VLSI hardware design (RTL level – VHDL, SystemVerilog).
• Understanding of Logic Synthesis for hardware implementation.
• Experience with docker, git.
• Familiarity with cluster-based job management (SLURM).

Applications need to include a CV and transcripts.

The starting date is as soon as possible. 

Location: Zurich or Lausanne, Switzerland