Principal Engineer, SoC NPU Architect

Samsung Research America (SRA); Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 243,000 - 377,000; Full time

Job summary

Samsung Research America (SRA) is seeking a NPU Architect to lead architectural exploration and drive features for next-generation SOCs. You will own performance, power, and area tradeoffs across NPU sub-systems, interfacing with HW and SW teams and leadership.

The role emphasizes machine learning workloads, feature definition and performance modeling, with a hands-on leadership approach across multiple teams and domains.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Masters or PhD in Electrical, CS or related field.
• 16+ years of experience in NPU architecture & development.
• Hands on experience in developing cycle accurate performance and functional models.
• Good knowledge and hands on experience in CNN and LLM models.
• Proficient in Python, SystemC and/or C++.
• Experience in ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, ONNX).
• Experience in micro architecture of SoC, interface subsystems, logic modules.
• Self-motivated problem-solver with an ability to work well in a team.

Responsibilities

• Propose innovative NPU architectural and micro-architectural features to boost PPA on workloads for next generation SOCs.
• Perform high-level performance modeling/simulation and analysis of NPU features, applications, benchmarks, and complex use cases.
• Develop cycle accurate and analytical NPU performance model and correlate with silicon.
• Deliver architecture/microarchitecture proposals and specifications to the design team and articulate them clearly to hardware, software engineers and leadership.
• Analyze benchmarks, application workloads, and performance simulation results for architecture and microarchitectural optimizations.
• Map AI use cases to NPU.
• Co-design of SW and HW to develop new architectures for low power and high performance.
• Collaborate across teams to bring architecture proposals to fruition across SOC, Driver, OS and System.

Skills

NPU architecture

Python

SystemC/C++

CNN/LLM models

ML frameworks

SoC micro-architecture

HW-SW co-design

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor/Master/PhD in Electrical/CS or related

Tools

Python

SystemC/C++

Job description

Lab Summary

The Samsung SoC Architecture Lab explores innovative SoC architecture, key IP blocks (CPU, GPU, NPU), bus / memory subsystem and multimedia subsystems for future Samsung Galaxy products (Smartphones, IoT and future devices) echoing Samsung’s AI for All strategy. We are defining the high-performance SoC architecture development for various Galaxy device lineups. This lab collaborates with Samsung MX headquarter team, key R&D teams around the globe and Samsung's strategic SoC partners to innovate and reinvent technology that will positively impact hundred-millions of people around the world via the Galaxy flagship products.

Position Summary

We are looking for a NPU Architect for next generation SOCs. This is a highly visible hands-on role leading individual and team contributions to NPU sub-system architecture, interface, performance and power tradeoffs. Responsible for anywhere from early-stage architectural exploration, research work focusing on machine learning, defining new features, performance modeling, Hardware-Software co optimization.

Position Responsibilities

• Propose innovative NPU Architectural and micro-architectural features to boost PPA (Performance, Power and Area) on various targeted workloads in next generation SOCs
• Perform high-level performance modeling/simulation and analysis of NPU features, applications, benchmarks, and complex uses case
• Develop cycle accurate and analytical NPU performance model and correlate with Silicon
• Deliver architecture/microarchitecture proposals and specifications to the design team and articulate them effectively across audiences ranging from hardware & software engineers to architecture community peers, and to technology leadership
• Analyzing benchmarks, application workloads, and performance simulation results for architecture and microarchitecture optimizations
• Map AI use cases to NPU.
• Optimize and co-design of SW and HW to develop new architectures for low power and high performance
• Collaborate across teams to bring architecture proposals to fruition across the SOC, Driver, OS and System through detailed documentation

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s, Masters or PhD degree in Electrical, Computer Science, related Science or equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• 16+ years of experience in NPU architecture & development
• Hands on experience in developing cycle accurate performance and functional models
• Good knowledge and hands on experience in in CNN and LLM models
• Proficient programming skills in Python, System C and/or C++
• Experience in ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, ONNX)
• Experience in micro architecture of SoC, interface subsystems, logic modules
• Self-motivated problem-solver with an ability to work well in a team

Special Attributes

• Experience in performance/power modeling using Platform Architect
• Experience in mapping AI use cases to IPs
• Experience with hardware memory managements units, prefetching or memory subsystems
• Experience with multi-core systems and memory coherency
• Experience in ML model optimization on GPU Architecture
• Highly motivated with good verbal and written communication skills

Base Pay Range

$242,500 - $376,650 USD

Additional Information

Disclosure of Trade Secrets
Samsung has a strict policy on trade secrets. In applying to Samsung and progressing through the recruitment process, you must not disclose any trade secrets of a current or previous employer.

Essential Job Functions

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, and frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Samsung Research America is committed to complying with all Federal, State and local laws related to the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact the recruiter or email [e-mail].

At Samsung, we believe that innovation and growth are driven by an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce. We aim to create a global team where everyone belongs and has equal opportunities, inspiring our talent to be their true selves. Together, we are building a better tomorrow for our customers, partners, and communities.

Samsung Research America is committed to employing a diverse workforce, and provide Equal Employment Opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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