SoC Audio Architect, Platform Architecture

Apple; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 220,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. is seeking a SoC Audio Architect to define the audio subsystem architecture for Apple’s SoCs. This role spans from concept through tape-out, collaborating with Silicon, Software, Hardware, and Firmware teams to optimize performance, power, and area across product lines.

The candidate will own multi-generational roadmaps, model workloads, and present results to executives, while mentoring engineers and supporting onboarding and talent development.

Qualifications

• Experience with SoC architecture principles.
• Experience with SoC audio processing.
• Master's degree with 20+ years of relevant industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and own architecture specifications for audio subsystems across multiple Apple SoC product lines.
• Author and maintain multi-generational technical roadmaps for audio subsystems, securing executive buy-in.
• Contribute to performance and power modeling of audio workloads to determine subsystem sizing and partitioning across interfaces, accelerators, DSPs, and software.
• Collaborate with Silicon Engineering, Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, and Firmware teams from concept through tape-out.
• Present architecture and performance study results to cross-functional and executive audiences to inform technical decisions.
• Mentor engineers and support onboarding and talent development within the team.

Skills

SoC architecture

SoC audio processing

System Verilog

Leadership

Education

Master's degree

Tools

RTL design concepts (System Verilog)

Job description

Do you love crafting elegant solutions to the hardest problems in audio and acoustics? Are you a big-picture, forward-thinking engineer who understands how audio subsystems integrate into a SoC and a system? At Apple, our Architecture group is responsible for connecting the hardware and software that bring sound to life across our products. Join this team, and you'll collaborate with engineers across Apple to design how our audio technologies work in unison!

Description

We are looking for a SoC Audio Architect to join our team defining the audio subsystem architecture for Apple's SoCs - technology that powers experiences across nearly every Apple product, from ultra-low-power keyword detection to high-fidelity spatial audio. This is primarily an audio subsystem architecture role, not an audio IP design role; experience designing audio IP is valued as background but is not the core function of the position. In this highly visible role, you will own the multi-generational subsystem architecture and roadmap for audio subsystems, collaborating closely with Silicon Engineering, Software Engineering, and Hardware Engineering teams to size subsystems and optimize trade-offs between performance, power, and area. You will have visibility across every product line and be accountable for architectures that scale across the portfolio, from early concept through tape-out and into shipping product.

Responsibilities

• Define and own architecture specifications for audio subsystems across multiple Apple SoC product lines
• Author and maintain multi-generational technical roadmaps for audio subsystems, securing executive buy-in
• Contribute to performance and power modeling of audio workloads to determine subsystem sizing and partitioning across interfaces, accelerators, DSPs, and software
• Collaborate with Silicon Engineering, Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, and Firmware teams from concept through tape-out
• Present architecture and performance study results to cross-functional and executive audiences to inform technical decisions
• Mentor engineers and support onboarding and talent development within the team

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with SoC architecture principles
• Experience with SoC audio processing

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree with 20+ years of relevant industry experience
• Experience defining architecture specifications for audio, DSP, or signal processing subsystems within an SoC
• In-depth understanding of SoC architecture concepts, such as on-chip fabric protocols, memory concepts, and clocking, reset, and power management
• Skilled in digital signal processing algorithms, including audio algorithms
• Understanding of SoC power modeling and Power/Performance/Area (PPA) optimization
• Understanding of SoC audio interfaces (e.g., I2S, PDM, TDM, MIPI SWI3S)
• Proficiency in hardware/software co-design, including familiarity with RTL design concepts (e.g., System Verilog)
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence across organizations

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant

At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You'll find that idea reflected in everything here - in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Learn about accessibility in Apple's workplace
Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants