Embedded CPU Performance Engineer, Platform Architecture

Apple Inc.; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 185,000 - 278,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. seeks an Embedded CPU Performance Engineer within the Platform Architecture group to advance power-efficient CPU performance across Apple devices.

You will push optimization for embedded CPUs powering iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more, balancing performance, power, and area while partnering with experienced designers. Responsibilities include modeling architectures, correlating RTL with performance simulators, and analyzing workloads to identify bottlenecks.

Qualifications

• Experience in CPU and SOC architecture and micro-architecture.
• Experience with performance simulation environments.
• Object-oriented programming in C/C++.
• Scripting in Perl or Python.

Responsibilities

• Drive performance and efficiency optimization for embedded CPUs.
• Collaborate with CPU designers in micro-architecture and RTL to assess ideas.
• Correlate RTL with CPU performance simulators to validate targets.
• Analyze workloads across product categories to identify bottlenecks.

Skills

CPU architecture

Performance modeling

C/C++ programming

Python/Perl scripting

Education

MS/PhD in Electrical/Computer Engineering or CS

Tools

Performance simulators

RTL analysis tools

ISA understanding

Job description

Embedded CPU Performance Engineer, Platform Architecture

Santa Clara, California, United States Hardware

Do you get more energy from the hardest problem in the room than the easiest one? Do you want a hand in shaping the CPUs that run quietly inside nearly every Apple product from the one your iPhone relies on to capture the perfect photo, to the one guarding your Apple Watch? The CPU Platform Architecture team exists to push the limits of power-efficient CPU performance, and we hold ourselves to a standard most teams wouldn’t bother with. We’re a tight-knit group obsessed with squeezing every drop of performance out of every milliwatt, bringing together deep expertise in microarchitecture, ISA definition, performance modeling, power modeling, and workload analysis. We’re looking for a highly motivated and innovative Embedded CPU Engineer to join us. In this role, you’ll drive performance and efficiency optimization and explore architectural features for Apple’s embedded CPUs that power critical functions across Apple’s entire product line.

Description

As an Embedded CPU Performance Engineer, you will help define CPUs that are specifically designed for running embedded applications across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and many other Apple products. Your focus will be to seek out areas for improvement in the unique constraints of varied embedded use cases, and model solutions that balance performance, power efficiency, and area. To do this you will collaborate with experienced CPU designers in micro-architecture and RTL to assess the feasibility of ideas through modeling and refine those ideas to make them implementable. You will also correlate RTL with the CPU performance simulator to ensure that the design meets targets and that the model is accurate. The role requires the analysis of specific workloads across a wide variety of existing and new product categories to identify bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement. We collaborate as a larger CPU architecture and performance team to maintain and improve the simulation and correlation environments to enable data driven decisions and look for ways to boost the productivity of the entire team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in CPU and SOC architecture and micro-architecture
• Experience with performance simulation environments
• Object-oriented programming skills in C/C++
• Experience in a scripting language such as Perl or Python

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in CPU microarchitecture in one or more of the following areas: branch prediction, prefetching, pipeline optimization, datapath, memory hierarchy
• 10+ years of relevant industry experience
• MS or PhD in Electrical or Computer Engineering or Computer Science
• Understanding of common data structures and algorithms
• Familiarity with SIMD, vector, or accelerator architectures
• Understanding of: power-performance trade-offs in CPU designs, system-level power management, and low-power design techniques
• Comfortable in an environment of uncertainty and able to navigate through ambiguities
• Experience in a research-driven environment

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $184,700 and $277,600, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant

At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
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Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.