Senior Compute Architect

Fractile; Bristol (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A cutting-edge tech company in Virginia is seeking a Processor Architect. In this role, you will define the architecture for core compute engines, collaborate with design teams, and ensure high performance in practical applications. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in processor architecture and a strong understanding of performance modelling tools. We offer a collaborative culture and an opportunity to be part of a rapidly growing team focused on AI advancements.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Processor Architect or similar role in semiconductor or high-performance computing.
• Deep understanding of compute engine architecture and design.
• Experience taking designs from exploration to tapeout and post-silicon performance characterisation.

Responsibilities

• Define and own compute engine architecture specifications.
• Lead architectural exploration from concept to specification.
• Partner with system architecture and software teams to ensure real-world application performance.

Skills

Processor architecture

CPU/GPU architecture

Performance analysis

Communication

AI acceleration

Tools

gem5

SystemC

Job description

Fractile is building silicon, systems and software which will redefine the frontier of AI: running the world’s most advanced models at radically higher speed and lower cost. We have an exceptional team across hardware and software capable of bringing about this change, and we are growing fast to meet demand and deliver our product at scale.

As Processor Architect, you'll define and drive the architecture of our core compute engines, ISA definitions and programming models through to memory hierarchies, and on-chip interconnects. This isn't just about hitting PPA targets on a spreadsheet; you'll work closely with logical design, physical design, and verification teams to translate architectural intent into working silicon that performs in the real world. Expect to be hands-on in performance modelling, detailed specification writing, bottleneck analysis, pre and post-silicon validation. You'll be the driving force behind the computational heart of our products ensuring every cycle counts and every watt is well spent.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own the compute engine architecture specifications, balancing performance, flexibility, power, area, and design complexity.
• Lead architectural exploration from early concept through to specification, coordinating with modelling, implementation, verification, and physical design teams.
• Specify execution units, memory hierarchy, instruction sets and flow — making principled trade-offs at every level.
• Help build and maintain performance models and simulators to guide architectural decisions with data.
• Partner with the system architecture and software/modelling teams to ensure the processor delivers real-world application performance, not just benchmark wins.
• Evaluate emerging techniques — compact number formats, novel compute paradigms, advanced packaging options — to inform the architectural roadmap.
• Act as a technical mentor, raising the bar for rigour in performance analysis and architectural documentation across the team.
• Represent compute engine architecture in technical reviews, partner discussions, and customer engagements.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as a Processor Architect, CPU/GPU Architect, or similar role in semiconductor or high-performance computing domains.
• Deep understanding of compute engine and processor architecture and design, including matrix and vector centric floating-point arithmetic and memory hierarchies.
• Strong grasp of RTL design flows and physical design constraints and how they feed back into architectural choices.
• Experience taking processor designs from early exploration through to tapeout and post-silicon performance characterisation.
• Demonstrated ability to define and manage performance and power budgets and navigate complex trade-offs.
• Comfortable working across many disciplines, including architecture, modelling, implementation, verification, and software.
• Excellent communicator who can bridge architectural depth with system-level and product-level context.
• Background in AI acceleration, vector/matrix compute, or domain-specific processor design.
• Experience with architectural performance modelling tools and frameworks (gem5, SystemC, custom cycle-accurate simulators).
• Familiarity with compiler and toolchain interactions, understanding how software maps to hardware.
• Prior start-up or scale-up experience, someone who thrives in ambiguity and fast iteration.

How we work

• Ownership and execution: you will have full agency to drive your work forward
• Rapid iteration: we all work directly with top leadership to move from idea to hardware on ambitious timelines
• Full-stack engagement: hardware, software, silicon, and modelling teams all work closely together to create a product with generational impact
• Optimistic and pragmatic: we possess the will to win, and to do the hard work to get us there
• Team player mentality: the mission is bigger than any of us, and we have the curiosity and technical focus to see the best idea shipped, no matter whose it is

About us

• Founded in 2022, a team of 80+, which is expanding rapidly
• Modern, open offices in London and Bristol
• Collaborative, problem‑solving culture built on deep curiosity, entrepreneurial initiative and technical fluency

Export control and security clearance

Certain roles may involve working on technologies subject to export restrictions. Applicants may be required to undergo additional eligibility checks to ensure compliance with applicable law.