Principal CPU Architect — AI/Data Center Performance

Samsung Semiconductor; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Samsung Semiconductor in San Jose is seeking a Principal Engineer, Architecture & Performance Research Engineer for Data Center and Agentic AI CPU. You will define the architectural vision and performance direction for next‑generation CPU platforms and identify opportunities across emerging workloads.

You will translate architectural ideas into RTL implementations, work with RTL teams, and validate designs from modeling through silicon.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 18+ years of relevant experience, or PhD with 15+ years
• 5+ years of experience in CPU microarchitecture, architecture research, or performance engineering
• Proven ability to use quantitative performance analysis and modeling to identify architectural opportunities, evaluate system‑level trade‑offs, and influence major microarchitectural decisions
• Hands‑on experience building, extending, and applying architectural simulators and performance models, such as gem5, to guide architecture decisions
• Strong programming skills in C/C++ and Python, with experience developing tools and automation for performance analysis and architectural exploration
• Demonstrated ability to take architectural concepts from research and modeling through RTL implementation and silicon validation

Responsibilities

• Define the architectural vision and performance direction for next‑generation CPU platforms
• Identify opportunities across emerging workloads, shape long‑term architectural strategies, develop performance models, and drive microarchitectural concepts
• Work with RTL design teams to translate architectural vision into implementable designs and validate choices from modeling to silicon
• Mentor Senior and Staff engineers and provide technical leadership across multiple projects
• Drive research contributions leading to patents and publications
• Lead cross‑functional architecture initiatives across engineering teams

Skills

CPU microarchitecture

Architecture research

Performance engineering

Modeling & simulation

gem5

C/C++

Python

RTL implementation

Mentoring

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Master’s degree + 18+ years

PhD + 15+ years

Tools

gem5

RTL tools

Performance modeling tools

Job description

Samsung Semiconductor in San Jose is seeking a Principal Engineer, Architecture & Performance Research Engineer for Data Center and Agentic AI CPU. You will define the architectural vision and performance direction for next‑generation CPU platforms and identify opportunities across emerging workloads.

You will translate architectural ideas into RTL implementations, work with RTL teams, and validate designs from modeling through silicon.