From Silicon to Software: Ashwin Adulla’s Full-Stack Approach to AI Systems

For some engineers, fulfillment comes from mastering one layer of the stack. For Ashwin Adulla, it’s about connecting them all.

While studying electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, Ashwin completed two internships at Apple. He initially joined the Silicon Design Team, exploring how machine learning could be used in the design process. A few months later, he returned to join the Neural Engine Compiler Team, working on running deep learning models on the iPhone. While both roles were technically engaging, Ashwin realized he was passionate about hardware-software co-design and wanted to look for such an opportunity in his next role. “As a cross-functional engineer, I wanted to touch different parts of the stack,” he explained.

Ashwin’s search for a broader scope, combined with his interest in new hardware and parallel workloads, led him to Rivos in June 2022. From day one of his internship, Ashwin was drawn to the company’s transparency and collaborative culture. He had access to everything, from architecture specs to software ideas, allowing him to explore beyond the boundaries of a typical intern role. “Having the ability to get a full picture without restrictions makes you a better engineer since you understand what part you’re contributing to the overall stack,” he said. Ashwin continued working part-time while completing his master’s degree, and returned to Rivos full-time after graduating in December 2022. 

As part of the Accelerator Software team, Ashwin works cross functionally with different teams to ensure deep learning workloads run efficiently and performantly on Rivos’ hardware. On a daily basis, he’s writing and optimizing code, running it on simulators, prototyping new ideas, and collaborating with the architecture and compiler team to improve both the hardware and software stack. Through his multidisciplinary work at Rivos, he finally found the breadth he was seeking. “I don’t work strictly on designing hardware or writing software,” he said. “I love working across both sides and seeing where they mesh.”

Ashwin’s not just at Rivos for the tech; he’s also there for the team. “There’s real camaraderie here,” he shared. “People know each other well and have a great deal of respect for one another, both personally and professionally. It makes having intense technical discussions easy while also having fun at work with each other.” 

Looking ahead, Ashwin hopes to grow with Rivos and be part of its long-term success. Down the line, he aspires to establish a research division within Rivos to implement applications beyond conventional computing. Specifically, he wants to explore how the company’s work can benefit the biomedical industry. 

In his free time, Ashwin stays active by running, swimming, and going to the gym. He also describes himself as a foodie, always trying out new bakeries and currently on a mission to find the best pizza in San Francisco.