Chief Architect

Architect Labs; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Architect Labs seeks a senior architect to define the architectural vision for next-generation AI compute silicons and to own critical decisions across compute, memory, interconnect, and hardware–software co-design.

You will build and own an autoresearch pipeline that connects workload analysis, design-space exploration, performance modeling, and PPA feedback to rapidly uncover architectures conventional methods would miss.

Qualifications

• Seasoned architect with multiple industry-leading CPUs, GPUs, or SoCs.
• Deep command of computer architecture and performance/area tradeoffs.
• Proven ability to mentor engineers and lead through credibility.
• Experience turning ideas into silicon in fast-moving environments.
• Strong cross-disciplinary collaboration with ASIC and software teams.

Responsibilities

• Define architectural vision for next-gen AI compute silicons.
• Own decisions across compute, memory, interconnect, and HW-SW co-design.
• Build an autoresearch pipeline connecting workload analysis, design-space exploration, and performance modeling.
• Partner with ASIC and software leaders to turn ideas into silicon.

Skills

Architectural leadership

System-level design

Performance modeling

HW-SW co-design

Mentoring engineers

Job description

About Architect Labs

Architect is a frontier AI lab for custom silicon. We partner with frontier labs, clouds / neoclouds, physical AI companies, and advanced fabs to tape-out custom chips co-designed for next-generation AI workloads. Our goal is to compress end-to-end software to silicon timelines, and maximize intelligence per watt and per dollar for the world. We are a small exceptional team across silicon, systems, software and frontier AI. Our team have led research teams at nearly every frontier AI lab, and at some of the most complex SoCs in the world.

What You'll Do

Define the architectural vision for new generation of AI compute silicons, and reinvent how architectures are discovered, explored and co-optimized with AI. Own the critical decisions across compute, memory, interconnect, and hardware–software co-design. Build an autoresearch architecture-search pipeline that connects workload analysis, design-space exploration, performance modeling, and PPA feedback to rapidly uncover architectures conventional methods would miss. Partner closely with ASIC and software leaders to turn the strongest ideas into silicon, with hands‑on ownership of the toughest tradeoffs.

What We'd Like to See

• Exceptional architecture pedigree: A seasoned architect and technical leader or equivalent who has defined and shipped multiple industry‑leading CPUs, GPUs, AI accelerators, or complex SoCs.

• Full-stack systems judgment: Deep command of computer architecture, performance modeling, memory systems, interconnects, power/performance/area tradeoffs, and software–hardware co‑design.

• Proven product impact: Architectural decisions that materially improved performance, efficiency, scalability, or product competitiveness in deployed silicon.

• Technical authority: The ability to challenge assumptions, simplify complex systems, mentor outstanding engineers, and lead through technical credibility rather than hierarchy.

• Builder mentality: Comfortable moving from first‑principles exploration to detailed engineering decisions in a fast‑moving, high‑ownership environment.

What We Offer

Competitive compensation and meaningful equity, extraordinary technical ownership, and the opportunity to shape foundational computing systems alongside a small, exceptional team.