Architecture Performance Model Performance Architect, CPU Cluster Santa Clara, California, United States

Tenstorrent; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

Tenstorrent is seeking a CPU Cluster Performance Architect to shape the performance and scalability of our next-generation CPUs. You will analyze how multiple cores form a cluster, from cache hierarchies to memory bandwidth, and drive architectural improvements through modeling and simulation.

This remote role is based in North America and welcomes candidates at varying experience levels; offers align with level after review.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in CPU microarchitecture and performance analysis.
• Experience with performance modeling and simulation.
• Ability to translate workload analyses into architectural recommendations.
• Experience collaborating across CPU, RTL, compiler, software and system teams.
• Excellent communication skills across multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and optimize CPU cluster performance, including cache hierarchies, interconnects, coherence, and memory access behavior.
• Build and use performance models and simulation environments such as Gem5 to evaluate architectural concepts and identify opportunities.
• Study real workloads to understand bottlenecks related to cache misses, coherence traffic, memory bandwidth, latency, contention, and core-to-core communication.
• Lead architectural tradeoff studies across performance, scalability, bandwidth, latency, power, and implementation complexity.
• Collaborate with CPU, cache, interconnect, memory, software, and system architects to translate performance analysis into concrete design decisions.

Skills

CPU microarchitecture

Performance modeling

Simulation tools

Cluster-level analysis

Collaboration across teams

Communication

C/C++ proficiency

Tools

Gem5

Job description

Tenstorrent is leading the industry on cutting-edge AI technology, revolutionizing performance expectations, ease of use, and cost efficiency. With AI redefining the computing paradigm, solutions must evolve to unify innovations in software models, compilers, platforms, networking, and semiconductors. Our diverse team of technologists have developed a high performance RISC-V CPU from scratch, and share a passion for AI and a deep desire to build the best AI platform possible. We value collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to solving hard problems. We are growing our team and looking for contributors of all seniorities.

Tenstorrent is looking for a CPU Cluster Performance Architect to help shape the performance and scalability of our next-generation CPUs. You’ll focus on how multiple CPU cores work together as a cluster — from cache hierarchies and coherent interconnects, to memory bandwidth and overall system behavior. This is a hands-on architecture role for someone who enjoys using performance models and simulation to understand bottlenecks, explore tradeoffs, and influence decisions early in the design process. You’ll work closely with CPU architects, RTL designers, software and compiler teams, and system architects to understand workload behavior and turn performance insights into architectural improvements. If you enjoy looking at the entire cluster and how performance scales across cores, memory systems, and chiplets, this is an opportunity to have a significant impact.

This role isremote, based out of North America.

We welcome candidates at various experience levels for this role. During the interview process, candidates will be assessed for the appropriate level, and offers will align with that level, which may differ from the one in this posting.

Who You Are

• You have a strong foundation in CPU microarchitecture and performance, with an understanding of how cores, caches, interconnects, and memory systems interact.
• You enjoy using modeling, simulation, and workload analysis to understand cluster-level performance bottlenecks and scaling challenges.
• You’re comfortable moving between detailed microarchitecture and broader system-level questions around latency, bandwidth, quality of service, utilization, and scalability.
• You’re analytical and hands-on, with the ability to turn large amounts of performance data into clear architectural recommendations.
• You’re a strong communicator who enjoys working across architecture, RTL, compiler, software, and system teams.

What We Need

• Analyze and optimize CPU cluster performance, including cache hierarchies, interconnects, coherence, and memory access behavior.
• Build and use performance models and simulation environments such as Gem5 or equivalent to evaluate architectural concepts and identify performance opportunities.
• Study real workloads to understand bottlenecks related to cache misses, coherence traffic, memory bandwidth, latency, contention, and core-to-core communication.
• Lead architectural tradeoff studies across performance, scalability, bandwidth, latency, power, and implementation complexity.
• Collaborate with CPU, cache, interconnect, memory, software, and system architects to translate performance analysis into concrete design decisions.

What You Will Learn

• How to architect, model, and optimize a multi-core CPU cluster from early performance exploration through implementation and silicon.
• How cache coherence, interconnects, memory hierarchy, and core architecture interact to determine overall system performance.
• How to model and reason about scaling across cores, including contention, bandwidth limits, latency, and workload behavior.
• How architectural decisions at the cluster level translate into real-world application performance.
• How Tenstorrent approaches scalable CPU and chiplet-based system architecture across compute, interconnect, and memory.

Compensation for all engineers at Tenstorrent ranges from $100k - $500k including base and variable compensation targets. Experience, skills, education, background and location all impact the actual offer made.

Tenstorrent offers a highly competitive compensation package and benefits, and we are an equal opportunity employer.

This offer of employment is contingent upon the applicant being eligible to access U.S. export-controlled technology. Due to U.S. export laws, including those codified in the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the Company is required to ensure compliance with these laws when transferring technology to nationals of certain countries (such as EAR Country Groups D:1, E1, and E2). These requirements apply to persons located in the U.S. and all countries outside the U.S. As the position offered will have direct and/or indirect access to information, systems, or technologies subject to these laws, the offer may be contingent upon your citizenship/permanent residency status or ability to obtain prior license approval from the U.S. Commerce Department or applicable federal agency. If employment is not possible due to U.S. export laws, any offer of employment will be rescinded.