Staff Engineer, GPU Graphic Core Performance Verification

Samsung Semiconductor; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 167,800 - 251,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k)

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Samsung Semiconductor in San Jose seeks a Staff GPU Graphics Core Performance Verification Engineer to lead performance verification for next-gen GPU designs. This high-impact position requires expertise in GPU architecture and programming skills in C++ and Python.

You will collaborate with diverse teams to ensure GPU designs meet performance expectations, while also mentoring engineers and contributing to innovative methodologies. A strong background in performance analysis and workload optimization is essential for success.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in relevant technical field.
• Strong understanding of GPU architecture and performance behavior.
• Experience developing performance tests and workload characterization methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-silicon performance verification for GPU designs.
• Analyze GPU performance behavior across complex workloads.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve GPU efficiency.

Skills

GPU performance verification

C++ programming

Python programming

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Computer Engineering/relevant technical field

Master's degree in relevant field

PhD in relevant field

Tools

OpenGL

Vulkan

OpenCL

Job description

Position Summary

Samsung, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, is founded on a simple philosophy – the endless pursuit of excellence will create a better world for all. At Samsung Austin Research and Development Center (SARC) and Advanced Computing Lab (ACL), we are building a center of excellence for Intellectual Property (IP) that is applied to high-performance computing devices (mobile, automotive, and other custom market segments) consumed by millions of people around the world. Come build with us!

Role And Responsibilities

As a Staff GPU Graphics Core Performance Verification Engineer, you will help lead pre-silicon performance verification and correlation for Samsung’s next-generation GPU and system-level IP. Your work will directly influence architectural validation, performance predictability, and workload optimization by ensuring GPU designs meet targeted performance expectations across architectural models, emulation, and silicon environments.

In this high-impact individual contributor role, you will contribute to performance verification strategy, develop scalable test infrastructure, and analyze GPU performance behavior across complex graphics and compute workloads. You will partner closely with GPU architecture, modeling, RTL, and validation teams to identify bottlenecks, debug performance issues, and guide performance tuning from early architectural exploration through silicon bring-up.

• Leveraging your expertise in GPU architecture and performance analysis, you architect and drive pre-silicon performance verification strategies, methodologies, and execution flows for graphics core and GPU subsystem validation.
• You develop and maintain performance verification infrastructure, including test environments, workloads, profiling tools, automation, and scalable verification flows to characterize GPU performance across simulation, emulation, and architectural platforms.
• You ensure technical excellence by analyzing, correlating, and comparing performance behavior across architectural models, RTL, emulation, and silicon, identifying bottlenecks and driving data-driven optimization strategies.
• You lead cross-functional collaboration with GPU architecture, modeling, RTL, verification, and software teams to define performance targets, debug performance issues, align workload behavior with architectural intent, and improve overall GPU efficiency and scalability.
• You inspire high performance by mentoring engineers, advancing performance verification methodologies, and fostering a culture of ownership, innovation, and continuous learning while staying ahead of emerging GPU architectures, graphics workloads, and AI/ML compute trends.

Skills And Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Computer Engineering/relevant technical field, or 4+ years of experience with a Master’s degree, or 2+ years of experience with a PhD.
• Strong experience in GPU performance verification, architectural validation, workload analysis, or performance modeling for GPU, CPU, or complex SoC designs.
• Strong understanding of GPU architecture, graphics pipelines, compute workloads, and microarchitecture performance behavior.
• Strong hands‑on programming experience in C++ and Python within Linux development environments.
• Experience developing performance tests, profiling infrastructure, automation frameworks, and workload characterization methodologies.
• Strong experience analyzing and correlating performance behavior across architectural models, RTL simulation, emulation, and/or silicon environments.
• Familiarity with graphics and compute APIs such as OpenGL, Vulkan, OpenCL, or related GPU software stacks.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify bottlenecks, propose solutions and guide teams through implementation.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and influence in a fast‑paced, global team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SystemC, performance simulators, or cycle‑approximate GPU modeling environments.
• Experience with RTL verification, emulation, or post‑silicon performance analysis.
• Familiarity with AI/ML, graphics rendering, or heterogeneous compute workloads.
• Experience with Sparta or other hardware/system modeling frameworks.

Our Team

The GPU Architect team delivers whole system architecture‑level design for Samsung’s current and next‑generation mobile GPUs. Our work spans a wide range of disciplines—from early‑stage architectural exploration and research in graphics and machine learning, to shaping the GPU innovation roadmap, defining new features, building models, and delivering microarchitecture design and programming. Our Xclipse GPU is the first mobile GPU with ray tracing technology that enables console‑level graphics for Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

Joining our team means collaborating with talented engineers from diverse technical backgrounds across a global organization. Here you’ll contribute to the roadmap for next‑generation technologies, broaden your expertise, and solve impactful challenges in a supportive environment that values collaboration, continuous learning, and growth.

Total Rewards

At Samsung – SARC/ACL, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $167,800 and $251,800. Your actual base pay will depend on variables that may include your education, skills, qualifications, experience, and work location.

Samsung employees have access to benefits including: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k), onsite lunch, employee purchase program, tuition assistance (after 6 months), paid time off, student loan program, wellness incentives and many more. In addition, full‑time employees (salaried or hourly) are eligible for MBO bonus compensation, based on company, division, and individual performance. Additionally, this role might be eligible to participate in long‑term incentive plan and relocation.

This is an exempt position, which is not eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

U.S. Export Control

This position requires the ability to access information subject to U.S. export control restrictions. Applicants must have the ability to access export‑controlled information or be eligible to receive a government authorization to access export‑controlled information.

Trade Secrets

By submitting an application, you agree not to disclose to Samsung, or induce Samsung to use, any confidential or proprietary information (including trade secrets) belonging to any current or previous employer or other person or entity.

Privacy, Equal Employment Opportunity

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