Silicon Design Engineer

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

AMD benefits at a glance

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. in Cambridge, United Kingdom, is seeking a Silicon Design Engineer to help develop high-performance CPU microarchitectures. You will model performance, analyse workloads, and collaborate across design, RTL, and software teams in a hybrid work environment.

You will build expertise in CPU pipelines, memory systems, and performance modelling, contributing to future AMD processors while expanding your engineering skills in a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong C++ programming and Python scripting skills.
• Experience in processor architecture, performance modelling, or hardware design.
• Familiarity with cycle-accurate simulation and performance analysis.
• Good understanding of OS, compilers, and applications.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Clear communicator within an engineering team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and enhance cycle-accurate CPU microarchitecture performance models.
• Analyse workloads, traces, and performance data to identify bottlenecks.
• Support RTL-to-performance-model correlation with hardware implementations.
• Evaluate microarchitecture features and quantify their performance impact.
• Collaborate with performance, architecture, RTL design, and software teams.
• Develop tools, scripts, and methodologies to improve analysis efficiency.
• Build expertise across CPU pipelines, memory systems, and core components.

Skills

C++

Python

Computer architecture

CPU microarchitecture

Performance modelling

RTL design

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/CE/EE

Tools

Performance analysis tools

Job description

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER. ADVANCE THE WORLD.

At AMD, we believe technology can change lives for the better. It can heal us, entertain us, and make us more connected, productive, and understanding of the world around us. And we’re looking for talent who feel the same: people who want to leave the planet better than they found it, those who don’t shy away from humanity’s challenges but are determined to help solve them.

AMD is powering the next generation of supercomputing, high-performance computing, cloud, and AI. Whether you’re designing next-gen processors, enabling AI breakthroughs, or creating go-to-market plans, every role at AMD contributes to something bigger — technology that moves the world forward.

SILICON DESIGN ENGINEER

LOCATION:

• Cambridge, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

THE ROLE

As a Design Engineer within the Core Performance Architecture Modelling team, you will contribute to the development and analysis of high-performance CPU microarchitectures. You will work alongside experienced performance, architecture, and design engineers, developing your skills in CPU performance modelling, workload analysis, model correlation, and microarchitecture feature development.

This role provides an excellent opportunity to build strong technical expertise in CPU architecture while contributing directly to the development of future high-performance processors.

THE PERSON

The successful candidate will have a strong foundation in computer architecture and software development, gained through academic study, research, internships, or relevant industry experience.

You are curious about how modern processors work, enjoy solving complex technical problems, and are motivated to develop your expertise in CPU microarchitecture and performance. You work well in a collaborative engineering environment and are comfortable learning from and contributing to a multidisciplinary team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and enhance cycle-accurate CPU microarchitecture performance models.
• Analyse workloads, execution traces, and performance data to identify bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.
• Support RTL-to-performance-model correlation and investigate differences between models and hardware implementations.
• Evaluate microarchitecture features and quantify their impact on CPU performance.
• Collaborate with performance, architecture, RTL design, and software teams on CPU feature development.
• Develop tools, scripts, and methodologies that improve performance analysis and modelling efficiency.
• Build technical expertise across CPU pipelines, prediction structures, memory systems, and other core microarchitecture components.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Strong programming skills in C++, with experience in Python or other scripting languages being beneficial.
• Good understanding of computer architecture and CPU microarchitecture fundamentals.
• Academic, research, internship, or industry experience involving processor architecture, performance modelling, simulation, or hardware design.
• Familiarity with performance analysis, benchmarking or cycle-accurate simulation is advantageous.
• Understanding of computing software stacks, including operating systems, compilers, and applications.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate technical ideas clearly and work effectively within an engineering team.
• Evidence of curiosity and technical initiative through academic projects, research, internships, open-source contributions, publications, or personal projects is beneficial.

• A strong electronics or digital hardware background, including knowledge of digital logic, RTL, or hardware design principles, is a plus.

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.

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Benefits offered are described: AMD benefits at a glance.

AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee-based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third-party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.