SoC Audio Engineer, Platform Architecture

Socket.dev; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple seeks a SoC Audio Architect to define the audio subsystem architecture for our SoCs. You will own the multi-generational subsystem architecture, collaborating with Silicon, Software, and Hardware teams to size subsystems and optimize performance, power, and area.

This role spans from early concept through tape-out to shipping products, demanding a strong technical vision and leadership across organizations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Experience with SoC architecture principles.
• Experience with SoC audio processing.

Responsibilities

• Define the multi-generational audio subsystem architecture for SoCs.
• Collaborate with Silicon, Software, and Hardware teams to size subsystems and optimize trade-offs between performance, power and area.
• Own the architecture roadmap from concept through tape-out and into production shipping.

Skills

SoC architecture principles

SoC audio processing

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

SystemVerilog

RTL design concepts

I2S

PDM

TDM

MIPI SWI3S

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.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience with SoC architecture principles
• Experience with SoC audio processing

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree with 10+ 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.