Senior Hardware Systems Architect - High-Speed Graphics

Bolt Graphics; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Equity – Stock Options

401(k) Match

WFH Equipment Reimbursement

Job summary

Bolt Graphics, a Sunnyvale-based semiconductor startup, seeks a Lead Hardware System Architect to own end-to-end hardware development for next-generation graphics compute platforms and high-density GPU servers. You will bridge silicon packaging with system-level deployment, guiding BMCs, SPI, I2C/SMBus topologies and vendor coordination.

Role requires 8+ years in hardware design, expertise in PCIe Gen5/6, and high-speed interconnects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of hardware design experience, with a proven track record of shipping high-performance graphics hardware, GPU motherboards, or high-density parallel compute accelerator boards.
• Deep, hands-on experience designing with PCIe Gen 5/6 and high-speed serdes (112G/224G PAM4). Familiarity with CXL or scalable interconnect fabrics is highly desired.
• Strong understanding of high-frequency PCB layout constraints, via optimization, and power delivery networks capable of handling extreme di/dt step loads inherent to dynamic graphics workloads.
• Proficiency with advanced EDA tools (e.g., Cadence Allegro, OrCAD) and familiarity with simulation tools for validating physical design assumptions.
• Experience directing overseas ODM engineering teams through architectural definition, layout execution, and laboratory hardware triage.

Responsibilities

• Architect the Platform: Drive system-level architectural trade-offs, balancing high-performance GPU silicon package constraints, high-speed routing density, thermal mechanics, and ultra-high-density power delivery networks (PDNs).
• Own High-Speed Topologies: Design and optimize complex PCB topologies utilizing PCIe Gen 5/6 (CEM specifications) and proprietary/consortium scale-up interconnect fabrics designed for parallel compute and graphics scaling (e.g., NVLink, Infinity Fabric, UA Link).
• Systemic Co-Design: Collaborate with Silicon, Signal/Power Integrity (SI/PI), and Thermal/Mechanical teams to define robust board stack-ups, low-loss material selection, and multi-phase power zones handling massive transient loads from modern graphics processors.
• Management Integration: Ensure seamless integration of out-of-band telemetry and management infrastructure, designing physical routing for Baseboard Management Controllers (BMCs), SPI, and I2C/SMBus topologies.
• Lead Technical Enablement: Serve as the primary technical authority interfacing with international JDM/ODM layout and hardware engineering teams.
• Triage & Failure Analysis: Lead complex hardware debug, component-level troubleshooting, and failure analysis (FA) during early-phase platform bring-up and validation of graphics compute hardware.
• DFX & Execution Governance: Enforce rigorous design reviews and strict compliance with DFX (Manufacturing, Assembly, Test, and Automation) standards to ensure high-yield transitions from EVT/DVT to High-Volume Manufacturing (HVM).
• Qualifications focus on Open Compute Project (OCP) and lab validation with high-speed equipment.

Skills

PCIe Gen5/6

High-speed Serdes

Cadence Allegro

Signal Integrity

Power Delivery

SMBus

DFX

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

Cadence Allegro

OrCAD

VNA

Oscilloscope

Job description

Bolt Graphics, a Sunnyvale-based semiconductor startup, seeks a Lead Hardware System Architect to own end-to-end hardware development for next-generation graphics compute platforms and high-density GPU servers. You will bridge silicon packaging with system-level deployment, guiding BMCs, SPI, I2C/SMBus topologies and vendor coordination.

Role requires 8+ years in hardware design, expertise in PCIe Gen5/6, and high-speed interconnects.