System Architect Lead

Digitailor; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Normal Computing in Silicon Valley seeks a System Architect Lead to guide hardware system architecture end-to-end for AI compute platforms. You will translate workload and performance requirements into board, chassis, and rack-scale designs, and lead cross-functional reviews from concept to deployment.

You\'ll work with ODMs and suppliers, define bring-up and validation strategies, and guide architectural tradeoffs to deliver high-performance AI compute systems.

Qualifications

• Experience architecting complex compute hardware systems.
• End-to-end hardware deployment from concept to production.
• Experience with ODMs and hardware suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Lead hardware system architecture from concept to deployment, translating workload needs into board, chassis, and rack-scale designs.
• Define bring-up, integration, validation and qualification strategies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners to meet performance targets.
• Review designs from ODMs and drive technical issue resolution.

Skills

System architecture

Hardware design

Rack-scale

ODM collaboration

Performance optimization

Education

Electrical/Computer Engineering degree

Job description

Normal Computing | Build with Us Normal is an applied AI company solving the hardest problems in AI and silicon. We build foundational hardware and software for the semiconductor industry, critical AI infrastructure, and the broader systems that power our world, in partnership with the world's most advanced institutions. We work as one team across New York City, Silicon Valley (Mountain View), London, Copenhagen, and Seoul.

The Role

As the System Architect Lead, you will lead the system architecture design of Normal’s AI compute hardware end-to-end, from initial concept to specification, design reviews, integration, and deployment. You will guide system-level decisions spanning boards, chassis, interconnects, and rack-scale system design, collaborating closely across hardware, software, and other engineering teams to ensure system designs meet performance and workload requirements. You’ll define system requirements and specifications, evaluate architectural options, and drive key technical decisions as our hardware platforms evolve. You’ll evaluate partner and vendor designs against our requirements, identify technical gaps and schedule risks early, and lead system-level tradeoffs. You’ll play a central role in bringing these pieces together into cohesive, high-performance AI compute systems and driving the overall system from architecture through deployment. What You Will Own Lead hardware system architecture from initial concept and requirements through design reviews, integration, and production deployment. Translate workload and performance requirements into hardware decisions, working closely with cross-functional teams and external partners. Lead architecture design across boards, chassis, and racks, including system topology, power, thermal, scale-up and scale-out fabrics, and networking. Define and own bring-up, system integration, validation and qualification strategy. What Makes You a Great Fit Significant experience architecting complex compute hardware systems, spanning server or machine-level designs through rack-scale platforms Experience taking hardware systems from early requirements and architecture through specification, integration, bring-up, validation, and production deployment Experience working with ODMs, suppliers, and other hardware partners, including reviewing designs, defining technical requirements, and driving technical issues to resolution Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field Bonus Points Experience designing high-performance AI compute syst