Senior, CPU Architecture & Performance Research Engineer

Samsung Semiconductor•San Jose, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Architecture Research Lab is seeking Senior CPU Architecture & Performance Engineer to contribute to performance analysis and microarchitectural optimization of current and next-generation CPU (RISC-V) cores. This role emphasizes hands-on analysis, modeling, and close collaboration with architects and design teams to improve performance across real-world workloads. You will focus on executing well-defined performance studies, identifying bottlenecks, and helping translate architectural ideas into measurable performance gains

Requirements

Master’s, or PhD in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
2+ years of experience in CPU microarchitecture and/or performance engineering.
Strong understanding of: Out-of-order execution, branch prediction, pipelines, and speculation Cache coherence, memory systems, prefetching, and NUMA effects
Hands-on experience with architectural simulators (like gem5).
Strong programming skills in C/C++ and Python.
Experience analyzing large performance datasets and traces.
Familiarity with compiler optimizations and hardware/software co-design.

Nice To Haves

Experience with RISC-V, ARM or X86 architectures.
Background in power/performance/area (PPA) trade-off analysis.
Familiarity with SIMD / Vectors / VME for AI inference workloads.
Prior tapeout / patent / publication experience.

Responsibilities

Perform performance analysis for CPU microarchitectural features under guidance from Staff and Principal engineers.
Run architectural simulations and analyze results (IPC, CPI stacks, latency and throughput metrics).
Identify performance bottlenecks in frontend, execution engine, or memory subsystems.
Assist in evaluating design trade-offs using trace-driven or cycle-accurate models.
Characterize workloads and benchmarks (SPEC, server, client, internal traces).
Develop scripts and tools to automate performance analysis.
Work leading to patents and publication.

Benefits

The pay range below is for all roles at this level across all US locations and functions.
Individual pay rates depend on a number of factors—including the role’s function and location, as well as the individual’s knowledge, skills, experience, education, and training.
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.