Senior CPU Performance Architect

European Tech Recruit; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Unknown is seeking a Senior CPU HW Performance Architect to join its Cambridge team. You will drive performance modelling, workload analysis and microarchitectural exploration to influence critical design decisions across performance, power and area.

The role spans from early concept and modelling through implementation and silicon, requiring close collaboration with RTL, compiler, OS and software teams to deliver pre-silicon performance improvements and architectural recommendations to senior

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field, or PhD.
• 5+ years of industry experience in high-performance CPU architecture or microarchitecture.
• Deep knowledge of fetch/decode, rename/dispatch, load/store, cache/memory hierarchy, and prefetching.
• Strong CPU performance, power and area trade-offs understanding.
• Experience with performance modelling, simulation or architecture exploration.
• Strong programming in C++ and Python; experience with profiling workloads.

Responsibilities

• Define next-generation CPU microarchitecture and high-level specifications.
• Develop and validate cycle-accurate CPU performance simulators.
• Explore microarchitectural concepts and evaluate impact on perf, power, area.
• Analyze workloads to identify performance bottlenecks and sensitivities.
• Conduct microarchitectural trade-off studies across front-end, execution and memory subsystems.
• Support pre-silicon CPU performance analysis and optimisation.
• Collaborate with RTL, compiler, OS and software teams to improve performance.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Contribute to long-term CPU architecture and performance strategy.

Skills

CPU architecture

Performance modelling

Simulation

C++

Python

Analytical skills

Debugging

Communication

Education

BS/MS in CS/CE/EE or PhD

Tools

CPU performance simulators

Perf profiling tools

Job description

A leading global technology organisation is expanding its advanced CPU research and development team in Cambridge and is looking for a Senior CPU HW Performance Architect.

This is a highly technical role focused on the development of next-generation high-performance CPU cores. You will work as a key member of the CPU Performance team, driving performance modelling, workload analysis and microarchitectural exploration to influence critical design decisions across performance, power and area.

The position offers the opportunity to work on complex CPU architecture challenges from early concept and modelling through to implementation and silicon.

Key Responsibilities

• Define next-generation CPU microarchitecture and high-level architectural specifications in collaboration with hardware, software and architecture teams.
• Develop, enhance and validate cycle-accurate and functional CPU performance simulators.
• Explore new microarchitectural concepts and evaluate their impact on performance, power and area.
• Analyse representative workloads to identify performance bottlenecks and architectural sensitivities.
• Conduct microarchitectural trade-off studies across areas including front-end, execution, memory subsystem and data movement.
• Support pre-silicon CPU performance analysis and optimisation.
• Work closely with RTL, compiler, OS and software teams to improve overall CPU performance.
• Present architectural findings and recommendations to senior technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to long-term CPU architecture and performance strategy.

Required Experience

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related discipline with 5+ years of relevant industry experience, or a PhD.
• Strong experience in high-performance CPU architecture or microarchitecture.
• Deep knowledge of one or more areas such as:
• Fetch and decode
• Rename and dispatch
• Load/store architecture
• Cache and memory hierarchy
• Prefetching
• Strong understanding of CPU performance, power and area trade-offs.
• Experience with CPU performance modelling, simulation or architecture exploration.
• Strong programming capability, particularly in C++ and Python.
• Experience with performance profiling and workload analysis.
• Strong analytical and debugging skills.
• Excellent technical communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Highly Desirable

• Hands-on experience developing or modifying cycle-accurate CPU simulators.
• Experience with pre-silicon CPU performance modelling and validation.
• Track record of delivering CPU microarchitectural improvements from concept through to silicon.
• Experience with modern out-of-order high-performance CPU cores.
• Understanding of operating systems, compilers and application-level workloads.
• Experience analysing industry-standard CPU benchmarks and real-world workloads.
• Patents, peer-reviewed publications or recognised technical contributions in CPU architecture or performance.

Ideal Background

Candidates are likely to have worked within advanced CPU architecture, processor performance, microarchitecture or CPU modelling teams at leading semiconductor, processor or technology organisations.

This position is based in Cambridge, UK and requires full-time onsite working.