Principal SoC Performance Architect – Next-Generation Server Platforms

Arm Limited; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 338,000; Full time

Job summary

Arm is seeking experienced performance architects to push the boundaries of modern server systems. You will work at the intersection of architecture, workload characterization, and silicon-level analysis to understand and improve real-world system behavior.

Join a team that designs future platforms by combining deep architectural expertise with practical investigations on silicon and large-scale workloads. This role offers leadership in benchmarking, cross-team collaboration, and end-to-end

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Computer Engineering, CS, or related field.
• 10+ years in system or hardware architecture.
• Experience with CPU/accelerator architectures, caches, PCIe/Networking/Storage.
• Strong background in high-performance IO or HPC/cloud systems.
• Benchmarking methodologies and custom microbenchmarks.
• Profiling tools, performance analysis, and simulators.
• Proficient in SystemC, TLM, C++, and Python.
• Ability to navigate large, complex codebases.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and analyze real-world workloads on production silicon, with a strong focus on AI at scale and HPC.
• Partner with multi-functional teams to define performance metrics, representative use cases, and benchmarking strategies.
• Design and implement targeted microbenchmarks to isolate and study specific architectural behaviors.
• Identify performance bottlenecks through detailed analysis and recommend actionable optimizations.
• Translate insights from workload and silicon studies into architectural improvements for performance and scalability.
• Collaborate closely with hardware and software teams to influence system-level design decisions.
• Serve as a performance expert, providing technical leadership and guidance across teams.
• Drive end-to-end understanding from architecture workload silicon validation to best-in-class system performance.

Skills

CPU architectures

Performance optimization

Benchmarking

SystemC/TLM

C++

Python

Large codebases

Education

MS/PhD in CS/CE

Tools

SystemC

TLM

C++

Python

Job description

We are looking for experienced architects who are passionate about pushing the boundaries of performance in modern server systems. This role sits at the intersection ofarchitecture, workload characterization, and silicon-level analysis, requiring a hands-on approach to understanding and improving real-world system behavior.

You will play a key role in crafting the performance of future platforms by combining deep architectural expertise with practical investigation on silicon and extensive computational tasks.

Responsibilities:

• Evaluate and analyzereal-world workloadson production silicon, with a strong focus onAI at scaleandHPC applications
• Partner with multi-functional teams to defineperformance metrics, representative use cases, and benchmarking strategies
• Design and implementtargeted microbenchmarksto isolate and study specific architectural behaviors
• Identify performance bottlenecks through detailed analysis and recommend actionable optimizations
• Translate insights from workload and silicon studies intoarchitectural improvementsfor performance and scalability
• Collaborate closely with hardware and software teams to influence system-level design decisions
• Serve as aperformance expert, providing technical leadership and guidance across teams
• Drive end-to-end understanding fromarchitecture workload silicon validationto ensure best-in-class system performance

Required Skills and Experience:

• Master’s or PhD degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience insystem or hardware architecture, with exposure to areas such as:
  • CPU / accelerator architectures
  • Cache and memory subsystems
  • PCIe, networking, or storage
• Strong background in either:
  • High-performance IO/networking(e.g., PCIE, CXL, InfiniBand, RoCE), or
  • Performance optimizationfor HPC or cloud-scale systems
• Proven expertise inbenchmarking methodologiesand development of custom microbenchmarks
• Solid experience withperformance analysis tools, profiling, and (ideally) simulation environments
• Proficiency inSystemC, TLM, C++, and Python
• Ability to navigate and contribute effectively withinlarge, complex codebases

“Nice To Have” Skills and Experience:

• Experience working directly withsilicon bring-up or post-silicon performance analysis
• Familiarity withperformance simulatorsor architectural modeling tools #LI-KC1

Salary Range:

$249,900-$338,100 per year

We value people as individuals and our dedication is to reward people competitively and equitably for the work they do and the skills and experience they bring to Arm. Salary is only one component of Arm's offering. The total reward package will be shared with candidates during the recruitment and selection process.

Our 10x Mindset

At Arm, we believe progress happens when people are empowered to think bigger and push beyond what seems possible. Our 10x mindset is about curiosity, ambition and creating impact that will be used by millions. We learn fast, prioritise collaboration and turn bold ideas into real technology. We look for people who are inspired by this way of working and want to grow in an environment where bold ideas are welcomed. Discover how the 10x mindset shapes life at Arm: https://careers.arm.com/10x-mindset

Use of AI in Your Application

At Arm, we embrace the benefits AI can bring, including in recruitment. You may use AI to support your preparation, such as improving the clarity of written responses, practicing interview questions, or learning more about our industry. However, your application and interview responses must reflect your own thinking, experience, and abilities. We want to understand your authentic perspective, creativity, and approach to problem solving. As such, you may not use AI to complete assigned tasks as part of any assessments. If you plan to use AI-supported or assistive technologies as part of a reasonable adjustment, please contact [e-mail] so we can support you.

Recruitment Adjustments and Accommodations

At Arm, we want to build extraordinary teams. If you need an adjustment or an accommodation during the recruitment process, please email [e-mail]. To note, by sending us the requested information, you consent to its use by Arm to arrange for appropriate accommodations. All accommodation or adjustment requests will be treated with confidentiality, and information concerning these requests will only be disclosed as necessary to provide the accommodation. Although this is not an exhaustive list, examples of support include breaks between interviews, having documents read aloud, or office accessibility. Please email us about anything we can do to accommodate you during the recruitment process.

Hybrid Working

Arm’s approach to hybrid working is designed to create a working environment that supports both high performance and personal wellbeing. We believe in bringing people together face to face to enable us to work at pace, whilst recognizing the value of flexibility. Within that framework, we empower groups/teams to determine their own hybrid working patterns, depending on the work and the team’s needs. Details of what this means for each role will be shared upon application. In some cases, the flexibility we can offer is limited by local legal, regulatory, tax, or other considerations, and where this is the case, we will collaborate with you to find the best solution. Please talk to us to find out more about what this could look like for you.

Equal Opportunities

Arm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and colleagues. We are a diverse organization of dedicated and innovative individuals, and don’t discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.