Sr. Director Hardware Development

AMD; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 260,000 - 330,000; Full time

Job summary

AMD is seeking an experienced Senior Director of Hardware Development to lead scale-up switch system design within the Networking Technology Solutions Group. You will drive end-to-end hardware architecture, development, and deployment for high-performance AI networking platforms, delivering complex, high-speed systems that support AMD's AI infrastructure roadmap.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record in leading multidisciplinary teams across electrical, SI/PI, mechanical, and thermal

Qualifications

• Experience leading high-performance networking hardware systems.
• Strong background in PCIe Gen6/Gen7, UAL/XGMI, DDR5/DDR6, 200G+ Ethernet.
• Hands-on board and system bring-up, PCB design and validation.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive system architecture for scale-up switch platforms.
• Set hardware roadmap and technical direction aligned with AI infrastructure goals.
• Lead end-to-end hardware development from architecture to production readiness.
• Mentor and lead global engineering teams across multiple disciplines.
• Communicate status and risks to executive leadership.

Skills

High-speed hardware

Leadership

System architecture

PCIe Gen6/Gen7

SI/PI design

PCB design

Team leadership

FPGA/ASIC integration

Scripting

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering / computer engineering

Master's degree or higher

Tools

Cadence

Altium

Simulation environments

Git/SVN

Job description

WHAT YOU DO AT AMD CHANGES EVERYTHING

At AMD, our mission is to build great products that accelerate next-generation computing experiences—from AI and data centers, to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we believe real progress comes from bold ideas, human ingenuity and a shared passion to create something extraordinary. When you join AMD, you’ll discover the real differentiator is our culture. We push the limits of innovation to solve the world’s most important challenges—striving for execution excellence, while being direct, humble, collaborative, and inclusive of diverse perspectives. Join us as we shape the future of AI and beyond. Together, we advance your career.

THE ROLE:

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Director of Hardware Development to lead next-generation scale-up switch system design within AMD’s Networking Technology Solutions Group (NTSG). This leader will drive end-to-end hardware architecture, development, and deployment for high-performance AI networking platforms, with responsibility for delivering complex, high-speed systems that support AMD’s AI infrastructure roadmap.

THE PERSON:

The ideal candidate is a seasoned engineering leader with a proven track record of delivering complex, high-speed hardware systems from concept through production. This individual brings deep technical judgment, strong execution discipline, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams across electrical, SI/PI, mechanical, and thermal engineering. They will shape technical strategy, scale team capabilities, and partner effectively across global engineering, manufacturing, customer, and executive stakeholder groups.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Define and drive system architecture for scale-up switch platforms, including 800G/1.6T+ class systems.
• Establish the hardware roadmap, design strategy, and technical direction aligned with AMD’s AI infrastructure goals.
• Serve as the senior technical authority across board, system, and interconnect design.
• Lead end-to-end hardware development, including architecture, schematic design, PCB layout, bring-up, validation, and production readiness.
• Drive high-speed interconnect design across PCIe Gen6/Gen7, UAL/XGMI, 200G+ Ethernet, and related technologies with strong SI/PI rigor.
• Oversee system-level validation, electrical bring-up, compliance, debug, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions for switch and NIC platforms.
• Build, mentor, and lead high-performing global teams across electrical, SI/PI, mechanical, and thermal engineering disciplines.
• Manage headcount planning, capability development, vendor partnerships, and global development execution.
• Partner closely with ASIC, packaging, optics, platform architecture, system software, manufacturing, quality, field, product management, customer, and hyperscale teams.
• Communicate technical direction, risks, trade-offs, and execution status to executive leadership.
• Drive cost optimization, second-source strategy, design-for-manufacturability improvements, and innovation in validation methodology and AI-enabled engineering workflows.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Extensive experience leading high-performance networking systems, scale-up switch platforms, or AI system architectures.
• Deep expertise in PCIe Gen6/Gen7, UAL/XGMI, DDR5/DDR6, 200G+ Ethernet, and high-speed interconnect technologies.
• Strong background in system-level SI/PI design, validation, debug, and root-cause analysis.
• Hands-on experience with complex board and system bring-up, PCB design, high-speed layout, and system integration.
• Experience with hardware development tools such as Cadence, Altium, simulation environments, and scripting.
• Proven success leading cross-functional and globally distributed engineering teams.
• Experience with FPGA, CPLD, or ASIC integration is preferred.
• Background in optical interconnects and scale-out/scale-up system architecture is preferred.
• Familiarity with configuration management tools such as Git or SVN is preferred.

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree or higher preferred.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

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Benefits offered are described: AMD benefits at a glance.

AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee-based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third-party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.