Datacenter Compute Platform Architect

Job Description

Job Description

The company’s Data Center team is at the forefront of innovation, developing cutting-edge technologies that power the world’s most advanced data centers.

Our team brings together system architects, advanced packaging technology developers, and SoC design experts dedicated to creating high-performance, power-efficient, scalable, and reliable solutions for data center applications.

We collaborate closely across technical disciplines to push the boundaries of compute technology and shape the future of cloud computing, hyperscale infrastructure, and AI data centers.

Role Summary

The company is seeking a visionary Datacenter Compute Platform Architect to enable our next-generation silicon at the platform and system level.

While SoC architects focus on the internal architecture of the chip, the Datacenter Compute Platform Architect will own the complete system surrounding it. In this role, you will define the end-to-end server platform architecture and ensure that companys CPUs and compute SoCs operate at peak performance, efficiency, reliability, and scalability within modern cloud infrastructure.

You will drive platform hardware specifications covering power delivery, thermal management, memory topology, high-speed I/O routing, system management, security, firmware interfaces, and reliability.

You will work closely with internal silicon architects, firmware and software engineers, external OEM and ODM partners, and hyperscale cloud customers to bring next-generation compute platforms from initial concept through validation and mass deployment.

Key Responsibilities

Platform Architecture Definition

• Define the end-to-end compute platform architecture surrounding company’s data center compute SoCs.

• Develop system architecture specifications for platform configurations including:

o Workstations

o 1U servers

o 2U servers

o Multi-node server systems

o Open Compute Project form factors

o Hyperscale rack-level platforms

• Define system partitioning, component selection, interface requirements, platform constraints, and scalability targets.

• Ensure that the platform architecture fully supports silicon-level performance, bandwidth, power, and reliability goals.

Power Delivery and Thermal Management

• Define system-level power delivery architectures for data center platforms.

• Establish requirements for:

o Power delivery networks

o Voltage regulator modules

o Power rails and sequencing

o Transient response

o Power budgeting

o Telemetry and monitoring

• Collaborate with board, package, silicon, mechanical, and thermal engineering teams.

• Develop advanced thermal strategies using:

o Air cooling

o Liquid cooling

o Cold plates

o High-density thermal-management solutions

• Ensure compliance with strict data center thermal design power and system power constraints.

• Evaluate how high-power CPUs, accelerators, chiplets, and multi-die packages affect platform-level power delivery and cooling.

High-Speed I/O and Memory Architecture

• Define system-level topologies and routing requirements for high-speed memory and I/O interfaces.

• Support technologies including:

o DDR5 and DDR6

o LPDDR

o PCIe Gen 5 and Gen 6

o CXL

o High-speed Ethernet

• Define:

o Memory channel topology

o DIMM configuration

o PCIe lane allocation

o CXL device connectivity

o I/O expansion strategies

o Multi-socket and multi-node connectivity

• Establish board-level design guidelines for signal integrity and power integrity.

• Work closely with SI and PI engineering teams to ensure platform designs meet electrical, timing, loss, jitter, and power-delivery requirements.

• Evaluate the physical limitations of high-speed PCB materials, connectors, routing, retimers, and system form factors.

Server Management and Platform Security

• Define server management architectures and system-management requirements.

• Establish platform requirements for:

o Baseboard Management Controllers

o OpenBMC integration

o IPMI

o Redfish

o NC-SI

o Platform telemetry

o Remote management

o Firmware update and recovery

• Define system-level hardware security architectures, including:

o Hardware Root of Trust

o Trusted Platform Modules

o Security Protocol and Data Model

o Secure boot

o Firmware authentication

o Device attestation

o Platform identity and lifecycle security

• Ensure secure and reliable platform operation in cloud and multi-tenant environments.

Firmware and Operating System Co-Design

• Partner with SoC architecture, BIOS, UEFI, firmware, operating system, and cloud software teams.

• Define platform-level hardware and firmware interfaces.

• Establish requirements for:

o ACPI tables

o Device discovery

o Boot flows

o Power-management states

o Thermal-management policies

o Error reporting and recovery

o Firmware update mechanisms

• Define end-to-end Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability flows.

• Ensure hardware, firmware, and operating system components work together to support enterprise-grade deployment and operation.

Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability

• Define comprehensive platform-level RAS architectures.

• Establish requirements for:

o Error detection

o Error containment

o Error reporting

o Fault isolation

o System recovery

o Service diagnostics

o Predictive failure monitoring

• Coordinate RAS capabilities across:

o CPU and SoC

o Memory

o PCIe and CXL devices

o BMC

o Firmware

o Operating system

o Cloud management software

• Ensure platform designs meet enterprise and hyperscale reliability expectations.

Ecosystem and Partner Enablement

• Serve as the primary technical interface for:

o Tier-1 ODMs

o Server OEMs

o Cloud Service Providers

o Hyperscale customers

o Platform component vendors

• Guide partners through platform architecture, design, implementation, validation, and deployment.

• Review partner schematics, board designs, power architectures, thermal designs, and platform configurations.

• Resolve complex system-level issues involving silicon, boards, firmware, operating systems, mechanical design, and cloud infrastructure.

• Develop platform reference designs and technical enablement materials.

• Support the transition from engineering prototypes to qualification and mass production.

Technical Leadership

• Write detailed platform architecture specifications and system-design requirements.

• Lead platform architecture reviews and technical decision-making.

• Present complex system-level trade-offs to:

o Silicon architects

o Board designers

o Firmware teams

o Business leadership

o External customers and partners

• Provide technical leadership throughout:

o Concept development

o Board design

o Prototype bring-up

o Validation

o Compliance testing

o Customer qualification

o Mass deployment

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in one of the following fields:

• Electrical Engineering

• Computer Engineering

• A related technical discipline

Professional Experience

• 10+ years of industry experience in one or more of the following:

o Server system architecture

o Motherboard design

o Data center hardware engineering

o Compute platform architecture

o Enterprise server development

• Experience leading complex server platforms from architecture definition through deployment is strongly preferred.

Required Technical Expertise

Server and Compute Architecture

• Deep understanding of server and SoC architectures based on:

o x86

o ARM

o RISC-V

• Knowledge of:

o AI compute engines

o CPU and accelerator integration

o Multi-socket architectures

o NUMA topologies

o Enterprise-grade server design

o Rack-scale compute architectures

• Ability to translate silicon architecture into practical system and platform requirements.

High-Speed Interfaces and Memory

Expert knowledge of data center connectivity and memory technologies, including:

• PCIe

• CXL

• Ethernet

• DDR4

• DDR5

• LPDDR

Strong experience defining or reviewing:

• High-speed PCB topology

• Signal integrity requirements

• Power integrity requirements

• Board stack-up

• Connector selection

• Retimer placement

• Channel-loss budgets

• Memory routing and topology

• I/O expansion architecture

System Management

Solid understanding of server management standards and architectures, including:

• BMC

• OpenBMC

• IPMI

• Redfish

• NC-SI

• Platform telemetry

• Remote management and diagnostics

Hands-on experience defining end-to-end RAS architecture is strongly preferred.

Firmware and Platform Software

• Understanding of BIOS and UEFI architecture.

• Familiarity with:

o ACPI

o Boot and initialization flows

o Firmware-to-hardware interfaces

o Operating system enablement

o Power and thermal management

o Error handling and recovery

• Ability to work closely with firmware and operating system teams during platform development.

Open Compute and Hyperscale Systems

Experience with Open Compute Project specifications and modern data center platform standards, including:

• OAM

• DC-MHS

• OCP server and rack specifications

• Hyperscale rack architectures

• Modular hardware systems

• High-density compute platforms

Advanced Packaging and Chiplets

• Understanding of multi-die and chiplet-based SoC architectures.

• Knowledge of how advanced packages affect:

o Board-level power delivery

o Thermal dissipation

o Mechanical design

o Signal routing

o Platform reliability

• Familiarity with high-power and high-density compute packages is preferred.

Communication and Leadership

• Proven ability to write detailed platform and system specifications.

• Ability to clearly present complex system-level trade-offs.

• Strong collaboration skills across silicon, board, firmware, software, mechanical, thermal, validation, and manufacturing teams.

• Ability to communicate effectively with both internal engineering teams and external customers.

Work Locations

This position is open in the following locations:

• San Jose, California

• San Diego, California

• Portland, Oregon

• Austin, Texas

Compensation

The base salary range for this position is:

$211,000–$356,000 per year

Employees may also be eligible for:

• Performance-based bonuses

• Short-term incentive programs

• Long-term incentive programs

Actual total compensation will depend on the individual’s skills, relevant experience, qualifications, and work location.

Benefits

The company provides a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage

• Life insurance

• Disability insurance

• Retirement savings plan

• 401(k)

• Company-paid holidays

• Paid sick leave

• Paid vacation

• Parental leave

• Additional employee benefits and incentive programs

Equal Employment Opportunity

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to inclusion and diversity.

Employment decisions are made without regard to age, ancestry, color, physical or mental disability, family or medical leave status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political