Performance Modelling Engineer – CPU Modelling / Microarchitecture / C++ / Python / Simulation / Performance Analysis

European Tech Recruit; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

European Tech Recruit partners with a global technology leader that has a major R&D presence in Cambridge, seeking a Performance Modelling Engineer to advance CPU architecture through modelling, simulation and workload analysis.

You will design cycle-accurate models, implement simulation environments, and evaluate architectural features for performance and power. 4+ years in CPU modelling with C++/Python is required, knowledge of Arm architectures is beneficial.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years of relevant industry experience in CPU performance modelling or architecture.
• Hands-on experience with CPU performance modelling and microarchitectural analysis.
• Familiarity with cycle-accurate, cycle-approximate or functional simulation environments.
• Strong understanding of CPU pipelines and performance metrics.
• Experience with CPU power models and cache-system models.
• Strong software engineering background: design, implementation, testing, debugging.
• Knowledge of Arm architectures (Armv8-A, Armv9-A).

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and enhance performance models for advanced CPU microarchitectures.
• Develop and maintain cycle-accurate and cycle-approximate simulation environments.
• Evaluate performance and power implications of proposed CPU features.
• Conduct architectural trade-off, sensitivity and cost-benefit analyses.
• Develop methodologies, tools and automated workflows for CPU performance analysis.
• Build visualisation and analytical tools to identify bottlenecks and optimisations.
• Analyse workload characteristics and translate findings into architectural recommendations.
• Collaborate with CPU architects, software engineers and performance modelling specialists.
• Contribute to evaluation and optimisation of next-generation processor designs.

Skills

CPU performance modelling

C++

Python

Scripting

Data analysis

Performance visualisation

Microarchitecture analysis

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/EE

Tools

SystemC

RTL

Job description

Performance Modelling Engineer – CPU Modelling / Microarchitecture / C++ / Python / Simulation / Performance Analysis

We are currently partnered with a global technology organisation with a major R&D presence in Cambridge, supporting the development of next-generation processor technologies. They are looking for Performance Modelling Engineers to join a CPU Architecture team, where you will use modelling, simulation and workload-characterisation techniques to evaluate future CPU hardware designs and provide data-driven insights that influence architectural decisions.

Key responsibilities

• Design, implement and enhance performance models for advanced CPU microarchitectures.
• Develop and maintain cycle-accurate, cycle-approximate, trace-driven and statistical simulation environments.
• Evaluate the performance and power implications of proposed CPU architectural features.
• Conduct architectural trade-off, sensitivity and cost-benefit analysis.
• Develop methodologies, tools and automated workflows for CPU performance analysis.
• Build visualisation and analytical tools to identify performance bottlenecks and optimisation opportunities.
• Analyse workload characteristics and translate findings into actionable architectural recommendations.
• Work closely with CPU architects, software engineers and performance modelling specialists.
• Contribute to the evaluation and optimisation of next-generation processor designs.

Key requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• 4+ years of relevant industry experience in CPU performance modelling, architecture or related areas.
• Hands-on experience with CPU performance modelling and microarchitectural analysis.
• Familiarity with cycle-accurate, cycle-approximate or functional simulation environments.
• Strong understanding of CPU pipelines and common architectural performance metrics.
• Experience developing or using CPU power models and cache-system models.
• Strong software engineering background spanning design, implementation, testing and debugging.
• Knowledge of Arm architectures, including Armv8-A and/or Armv9-A.
• Experience working with microarchitecture performance counters.

Keywords

Performance Modelling Engineer, CPU Performance, CPU Architecture, CPU Microarchitecture, Processor Performance, Performance Engineering, Performance Analysis, Performance Modelling, Microarchitecture Analysis, CPU Simulation, Cycle-Accurate Simulation, Cycle-Approximate Simulation, Functional Simulation, Trace-Driven Simulation, Statistical Simulation, Workload Analysis, Workload Characterisation, CPU Pipelines, CPU Performance Metrics, Power Modelling, Cache Modelling, Cache Systems, Performance Counters, Bottleneck Analysis, Architectural Trade-Offs, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Sensitivity Analysis, C++, C Programming, Python, Scripting, Data Analysis, Performance Visualisation, Automated Workflows, Simulation Frameworks, RTL, SystemC, Armv8-A, Armv9-A, Hardware/Software Co-Design, Hardware/Software Co-Optimisation, System Architecture, System Software, CPU Design, Processor Design, Cambridge, UK.

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