R&D CPU Architect

CPU Architect Senior (L5 equivalent) 5-8 years

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The job description

Tech stack. Advanced architectural simulation, gem5, Python, research prototyping, PPA analysis, technology assessment, patent development, academic collaboration

About the role

You will work as a research architect at a semiconductor company, exploring the CPU concepts that are three to seven years from productization. R&D architects operate ahead of the product roadmap: they prototype radical ideas, quantify their potential with rigorous modeling, publish and patent the best work, and transfer proven concepts into product programs. This role suits an architect who is driven by the question of what comes next and who can balance blue-sky creativity with the engineering discipline to prove an idea is real.

What you will achieve

Identify and prototype breakthrough CPU architecture concepts such as novel execution models, memory technologies, or speculation techniques, building functional models that demonstrate feasibility.
Quantify the potential of research concepts with rigorous PPA analysis on projected future workloads and process technologies, producing honest assessments that distinguish genuine opportunities from attractive dead ends.
Publish selected research in top venues and file patents that protect the company's intellectual property, building both personal and organizational reputation in the architecture community.
Transfer proven concepts into product development programs, working with product architects on the de-risking, specification, and adoption plan that turns research into shipping features.
Maintain deep awareness of academic research, startup activity, and competitor directions, synthesizing the landscape into recommendations for where the company's research bets should go.
Build research infrastructure including simulation frameworks, workload suites, and analysis tools that accelerate the entire R&D organization's productivity.

What you will bring

Must-haves

5 to 8 years of experience in CPU architecture research or advanced product architecture with a record of original contributions.
PhD in computer architecture or equivalent depth demonstrated through publications, patents, or influential industry work.
Exceptional modeling and prototyping skills with the ability to stand up a credible evaluation of a new idea quickly.
Breadth across the architecture stack from devices and circuits through microarchitecture to software and workloads.
Intellectual courage to pursue unconventional ideas combined with the honesty to kill projects the data does not support.
Strong written and verbal communication for publications, internal advocacy, and technology transfer.
Ability to work with long time horizons and ambiguous goals while still delivering concrete, measurable progress.

Nice-to-haves

Experience transferring research concepts into shipped products.
Familiarity with emerging device technologies, advanced packaging, or novel memory hierarchies.
Active relationships with academic research groups and conference program committees.