Senior Engineer, Architecture & Performance Research Engineer for Data Center and Agentic AI CPU

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Senior Engineer , Architecture & Performance Research Engineer for Data Center and Agentic AI CPU

What You’ll Do

Architecture Research Lab is focused on researching next-generation CPU (RISC-V) microarchitecture and performance for emerging computing workloads. We explore new architectural ideas, evaluate their performance potential, and rapidly turn promising concepts into working designs that can be validated on real silicon. Our research is driven by emerging opportunities in data center and agentic AI workloads, where we investigate how CPU architecture can evolve to meet new performance and efficiency requirements. We also explore CPU-memory co-design from the CPU perspective, in alignment with the broader shift toward memory-centric architectures. A distinctive aspect of our team is the way we approach architecture research. We develop and apply AI-driven methodologies to accelerate architectural exploration, broaden the design space we can investigate, and quickly iterate from ideas to implementation and silicon validation. Rather than simply following established design flows, we continuously seek new ways to explore, evaluate, and realize CPU architectures. The role offers an opportunity to work across the full spectrum of architecture research—from workload and performance analysis, microarchitectural innovation, and architectural modeling to implementation and silicon validation—while helping shape new methodologies for how future CPUs are designed.

Location: Daily onsite presence at our San Jose office in alignment with our Flexible Work policy

Job ID: 43003

As a Senior CPU Architecture & Performance Engineer, you will drive both microarchitectural research and performance modeling for next-generation CPU architectures. You will analyze emerging workloads, develop and refine performance models, identify architectural opportunities, and turn quantitative insights into new microarchitectural concepts. You will work closely with RTL design teams to evaluate, refine, and implement promising ideas, taking them from architectural modeling through RTL and silicon validation. The role offers significant ownership in shaping new CPU architectures and determining which ideas can deliver meaningful performance gains in real hardware.

• Collaborate with Staff and Principal Engineers, owning a specific microarchitectural domain from idea proposal through implementation and validation
• Participate in design implementation and validation using AI-driven design methodologies
• Run architectural simulations and performance models, and analyze results such as IPC, CPI stacks, latency, and throughput
• Identify performance bottlenecks and optimization opportunities across the front-end, mid-end, and back-end
• Characterize workloads and benchmarks to understand performance behavior and architectural opportunities
• Develop scripts and tools to automate and accelerate performance analysis and architectural exploration
• Contribute to patents and technical publications based on novel architectural research

What You Bring

• Master’s with Computer Architecture, Computer Engineering, or a related field and
• 3+ years of experience or PhD degree in Computer Architecture, Computer Engineering, or a related field
• 1+ years of experience in CPU microarchitecture or performance engineering
• Strong understanding of out-of-order execution, branch prediction, pipelines, speculation, and cache/memory systems
• Hands-on experience with architectural simulators such as gem5
• Proficiency in C/C++ and Python

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with RISC-V, ARM, or x86 CPU cores, or with GPU/NPU vector unit design
• Experience with or interest in AI-driven or agentic design workflows
• Understanding of execution patterns and characteristics of agentic AI workloads
• Domain-specific experience in the front-end, mid-end, or back-end areas described above
• Experience with PPA trade-off analysis
• Experience with CPU tape-out or silicon validation
• Experience with patents or technical publications related to CPU
• You’re inclusive, adapting your style to the situation and diverse global norms of our people.
• You approach challenges with curiosity and resilience, seeking data to help build understanding.
• You’re collaborative, building relationships, humbly offering support and openly welcoming approaches.
• Innovative and creative, you proactively explore new ideas and adapt quickly to change

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What We Offer
The pay range below is for all roles at this level across all US locations and functions. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance.

This is in addition to our diverse package of benefits centered around the wellbeing of our employees and their loved ones. In addition to the usual Medical/Dental/Vision/401k, our inclusive rewards plan empowers our people to care for their whole selves. An investment in your future is an investment in ours.

Give Back With a charitable giving match and frequent opportunities to get involved, we take an active role in supporting the community.
Enjoy Time Away You’ll start with 4+ weeks of paid time off a year, plus holidays and sick leave, to rest and recharge.
Care for Family Whatever family means to you, we want to support you along the way—including a stipend for fertility care or adoption, medical travel support, and virtual vet care for your fur babies.
Prioritize Emotional Wellness With on-demand apps and free confidential therapy sessions, you’ll have support no matter where you are.
Stay Fit Eating well and being active are important parts of a healthy life. Our onsite Café and gym, plus virtual classes, make it easier.
Embrace Flexibility Benefits are best when you have the space to use them. That’s why we facilitate a flexible environment so you can find the right balance for you.

Base Pay Range

$138,000—$206,000 USD

Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

Samsung Semiconductor takes pride in being an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to fostering an environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered to excel, regardless of race, religion, color, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, or veteran status.

When selecting team members, we prioritize talent and qualities such as humility, kindness, and dedication. We extend comprehensive accommodations throughout our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long-term conditions, neurodivergent individuals, or those requiring pregnancy-related support. All candidates scheduled for an interview will receive guidance on requesting accommodations.

Our Commitment to Innovation and Fairness

At Samsung Semiconductor, we use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the recruitment process to enhance efficiency. However, AI is used as a support tool, not a final decision-maker. All hiring decisions are made by our human recruiting team and hiring managers to ensure every candidate is evaluated fairly and holistically.

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At Samsung Semiconductor, we support innovation and technology. However, to ensure a fair and authentic assessment, we ask that candidates rely on their own knowledge and skills throughout the process. AI tools may be used for basic preparation, grammar, and research, but should not be used to generate or assist with submitted content or live interview responses. If we determine that AI is being used outside these guidelines, we reserve the right to pause or end the interview, and your candidacy may be disqualified.

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