Senior CPU Performance Architect

European Tech Recruit; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

European Tech Recruit is assisting a global technology leader in Cambridge, UK to hire a Senior CPU HW Performance Architect. The role emphasizes next-generation high-performance CPU cores, performance modelling, workload analysis and microarchitectural exploration to influence critical design decisions across performance, power and area.

The position spans from concept and modelling through to implementation and silicon, requiring 100% onsite work and close collaboration with RTL, compiler, OS

Qualifications

• 5+ years in CPU architecture or microarchitecture.
• Experience with performance modelling and workloads.
• Strong programming in C++ and Python.
• Excellent communication and collaboration.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

CPU architecture

Performance modelling

Cycle-accurate simulation

C++

Python

Workload analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS/MS or PhD in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

CPU simulators

Profiling tools

Job description

Senior CPU HW Performance Architect

Location: Cambridge, UK

Working Model: 100% Onsite

Employment Type: Permanent

About the Role

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
• Branch prediction
• Rename and dispatch
• Out-of-order execution
• Execution units
• 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.