Media-IP SoC Performance Architect, Platform Architecture

Apple Inc.; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 216,200 - 324,800; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Cupertino, CA is seeking a Media-IP SoC Performance Architect to join Platform Architecture. You’ll own performance models for media IPs in Apple’s SoCs, collaborating across hardware and software teams to optimize performance, power, and area.

The role emphasizes data-driven architectural insights for customers across Apple products, including Vision Pro and iPhone. The position focuses on C++ performance modeling, cross-functional collaboration, and delivering architectural

Qualifications

• Experience in computer architecture and software engineering.
• Experience in C++ object‑oriented software development.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with architects, design, and software teams to plan, implement, validate, and correlate high‑level C++ performance models.
• Develop custom tools and approaches for analyzing and visualizing performance data, applying data science and machine learning techniques to provide architectural insights.
• Present performance study results to cross‑functional teams to inform and drive architectural decisions.
• Validate the performance models against the specification and correlate the model with RTL.
• Use and develop tools for analyzing traces from products and simulating the data flow for Media use cases to provide performance and power feedback to the architecture and software teams.

Skills

Computer architecture

C++ OO development

Job description

Media-IP SoC Performance Architect, Platform Architecture

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

Do you love crafting elegant solutions to highly complex challenges? Are you a big-picture forward-thinking who understands how each element affects all the others? At Apple, our Architecture group is responsible for connecting our hardware and software into one unified system. Join this team, and you’ll collaborate with engineers across Apple to design how all our technologies work in unison!

Description

We are looking for a Media-IP SoC Performance Architect to join our small, dynamic team at Apple. We own the performance models of several complex multi‑media IPs that power Apple's SoCs—technology that’s central to the customer experience across nearly every Apple product, from Apple Watch and iPhone to iPad, Mac, Vision Pro (AR/VR), and next‑generation product lines. In this highly visible role, you will collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams to help define the architecture of new features and optimize trade‑offs between performance, power, and area for these Media‑IPs using a variety of sources ranging from performance models to released devices. The end goal is to provide data‑driven performance architectural insights that provide the best customer experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with functional architects, design, and software teams to plan, implement, validate, and correlate high‑level C++ performance models
• Develop custom tools and approaches for analyzing and visualizing performance data, applying data science and machine learning techniques to provide architectural insights
• Present performance study results to cross‑functional teams to inform and drive architectural decisions
• Validate the performance models against the specification and correlate the model with RTL
• Use and develop tools for analyzing traces from products and simulating the data flow for Media use cases to provide performance and power feedback to the architecture and software teams

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in computer architecture and software engineering
• Experience in C++ object‑oriented software development

Preferred Qualifications

• MS/PhD with 20+ years of relevant industry experience
• Strong understanding of SoC architectures including fabrics, memory systems, QoS, arbitration, and queuing theory
• Experience with performance model development and analysis, including data analytics, statistics, and applied machine learning
• Expertise in C++ including latest STL libraries, with strong skills in modular object‑oriented software architectures and design patterns
• Proficiency in Python, Lua, and shell scripting languages
• Demonstrated problem‑solving and analytical skills with ability to tackle complex architectural challenges
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting technical results to cross‑functional audiences

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 $216,200 and $324,800, 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.

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.

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.

Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace; learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants.