Datacenter Compute SoC Perf/Power Modeling Architect

MediaTek; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 211,000 - 356,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Vacation time

Parental leave

401K

Job summary

MediaTek’s Data Center team is advancing high‑performance, power‑efficient datacenter processors. We’re seeking a Datacenter Compute SoC Performance Modeling Engineer to define next‑gen cloud CPUs and develop cycle‑accurate simulators (C++/SystemC) for multi‑core SoCs.

You will collaborate with CPU/Compute core architects, IP teams, RTL designers, and workload analysts to optimize memory bandwidth, interconnects, and core counts, delivering peak performance per watt.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 5+ years of CPU/SoC performance modeling experience.
• Experience profiling hyperscaler workloads (e.g., SPEC CPU, cloud microservices, big data analytics).
• Proficient in modern C++ and object-oriented design.
• Scripting in Python or Perl for data analysis.
• Knowledge of memory hierarchies and cache coherency.
• Familiar with interconnects and I/O protocols like PCIe/CXL.
• Experience with gem5 or Sniper or similar simulators.
• Strong communication across teams and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain cycle-accurate performance models for multi-core datacenter SoCs.
• Characterize cloud-native workloads and drive architectural requirements.
• Conduct what-if analyses to optimize cache sizes, memory bandwidth, latency, and topologies.
• Identify bottlenecks and propose hardware/software solutions.
• Correlate models with RTL simulations and silicon data.
• Build tooling for performance tracing and regression pipelines.

Skills

C++

Python

Perl

SystemC

gem5

Sniper

CPU microarchitecture

Memory hierarchies

Interconnects PCIe/CXL

Performance modeling

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

gem5

Sniper

SystemC

Job description

Job Description
MediaTek’s Data Center team is at the forefront of innovation, driving the development of cutting‑edge technologies that power the world's most advanced data centers. We are a dynamic group of system architects, packaging technology developers, and SoC design experts dedicated to creating high-performance, efficient, and reliable solutions. Our team collaborates closely to push the boundaries of technology, ensuring optimal performance, power efficiency, and scalability for data center applications. Join our Data Center team and be a part of the technological revolution that is shaping the future of data centers. If you are passionate about innovation and have the expertise to drive strategic technology development, we would love to hear from you. Role Summary We are looking for a highly skilled Datacenter Compute SoC Performance Modeling Engineer. In this role, you will be at the forefront of defining our next-generation cloud and datacenter processors. You will develop and maintain high-speed, cycle-accurate, and transaction-level architectural simulators to evaluate design trade-offs, identify performance bottlenecks, and project system performance across a wide range of datacenter workloads. You will collaborate closely with CPU/Compute core architects, SoC architects, IP architects, workload characterization teams, and RTL designers to ensure our silicon delivers industry-leading performance-per-watt and scales efficiently to meet the demands of modern hyper-scale infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Simulator Development: Design, develop, and maintain cycle-accurate and transaction-level performance models (C++/SystemC) for multi-core datacenter SoCs, including CPU cores, memory subsystems, interconnects (NoC), and high-speed I/O (PCIe/CXL).
• Workload Analysis & Profiling: Analyze and characterize cloud-native workloads, microservices, databases, and AI/ML data processing pipelines to drive architectural requirements.
• Performance Exploration: Conduct what-if analyses and architectural design sweeps to optimize cache sizes, memory bandwidth, latency, interconnect topologies, and core counts.
• Bottleneck Identification: Identify micro‑architectural and system‑level performance bottlenecks and propose innovative hardware or software solutions.
• RTL & Silicon Correlation: Work with RTL verification and post-silicon validation teams to correlate the performance model against RTL simulations, emulators, and actual silicon, ensuring model accuracy.
• Tooling & Infrastructure: Build and enhance tracing tools, data visualization dashboards, and automated performance regression pipelines using Python and data analysis libraries. Location: open to San Jose, San Diego, Portland and Austin

Main Requirements and Qualifications

• Qualifications
• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of industry experience in CPU, compute core, SoC, or system-level performance modeling and architectural analysis.
• Datacenter Focus: Experience profiling and analyzing hyperscaler workloads (e.g., SPEC CPU, cloud microservices, big data analytics, virtualization).
• Programming Skills:
• Expert-level proficiency in modern C++ (C++14/17 or later) and object-oriented design.
• Strong scripting skills in Python or Perl for data analysis and automation.
• Computer Architecture:
• Deep understanding of high-performance CPU microarchitecture (out-of-order execution, branch prediction, etc.) or computation engines (like PE array, Graph based compute, …)
• Comprehensive knowledge of memory hierarchies, cache coherency protocols (e.g., MESI, MOESI), and main memory technologies (DDR & LPDDR5/6, HBM).
• Familiarity with on-chip interconnects (e.g., AMBA CHI, AXI), I/O protocols (PCIe/CXL) and multiple-die architecture (e.g., UCIe)
• Modeling Frameworks: Hands‑on experience with industry-standard simulators (e.g., gem5, Sniper) or building proprietary trace‑driven/execution‑driven simulators from scratch.
• Communication: Ability to clearly present complex performance data and architectural trade‑offs to cross‑functional teams and leadership.
• Salary range: $211,000- $356,000
• Employee may be eligible for performance bonus, short and long term incentive programs. Actual total compensation will be dependent upon the individual’s skills, experience and qualifications. In addition, MediaTek provides a variety of benefits including comprehensive health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays, Sick Leave, Vacation time, Parental leave, 401K and more.
• MediaTek is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.