Lead CPU Architect

About the role

You will lead a small team of CPU architects at a semiconductor company while remaining deeply technical and hands-on yourself. The team owns the microarchitecture definition for a CPU program, and you are accountable both for the technical quality of that definition and for the professional growth of the people creating it. This is a working leadership role for an architect who wants to multiply their impact through others: you will still build models, write specifications, and make the hardest technical calls, while ensuring the team delivers cohesively and each member develops.

What you will achieve

• Lead a team of 3 to 6 architects in defining the complete microarchitecture for a new CPU core or major subsystem revision, from initial exploration through final specification.
• Deliver the architecture specification package on the program schedule, with every interface, behavior, and corner case defined clearly enough that the design organization can begin implementation without rework or churn.
• Establish the performance model, projection methodology, and correlation plan for the program, hitting the accuracy targets agreed with leadership at each milestone.
• Run effective technical reviews that catch design flaws early, distribute knowledge across the team, resolve disagreements fairly, and build a durable culture of rigorous technical critique.
• Develop each team member deliberately through mentoring, stretch assignments matched to their growth areas, and candid, actionable feedback delivered with care.
• Coordinate with program management on scope, schedule, dependencies, and risk, communicating status honestly and surfacing issues early when they are still solvable rather than late when they are crises.

What you will bring

Must-haves

• 7 or more years of experience in CPU architecture with at least one complete program from initial concept through tapeout and silicon.
• Demonstrated technical leadership of engineers or architects, whether through formal management or as the recognized technical authority people follow.
• Strong microarchitecture fundamentals spanning the full pipeline, the memory subsystem, power management, and debug architecture.
• Experience with performance modeling, PPA-driven decision making, and projection accountability at program scale.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and track technical work across a small team with competing demands and limited time.
• Communication skills that work equally well with individual engineers, program managers, and senior executives.
• The balance to stay technical enough to earn the team's deep respect while leading effectively rather than micromanaging.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience hiring, onboarding, and growing architecture talent.
• Background spanning both CPU architecture and RTL design implementation.
• Familiarity with structured hardware program management practices and milestone planning.