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

The role

You will define the architectural vision and performance direction for next-generation CPU platforms. You will research RISC-V microarchitecture and performance for data center and agentic AI workloads.

What you will do

• Define application-specialization direction for next-generation CPU cores
• Lead end-to-end performance analysis using architectural simulators and RTL
• Translate workload characterization and performance insights into architectural requirements
• Drive architecture-to-implementation alignment with design teams
• Mentor Senior and Staff engineers and provide technical leadership
• Drive research and technical contributions leading to patents and publications

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with 18+ years of relevant experience, or PhD with 15+ years of relevant experience
• 5+ years of experience in CPU microarchitecture, architecture research, or performance engineering
• Extensive experience designing and evaluating high-performance CPU architectures, including RISC-V, ARM, or x86 cores
• Proven ability to use quantitative performance analysis and modeling
• Deep expertise in at least one major microarchitectural domain (Front-end, Mid-end, or Back-end)
• Hands-on experience building, extending, and applying architectural simulators and performance models, such as gem5
• Strong programming skills in C/C++ and Python
• Demonstrated ability to take architectural concepts from research and modeling through RTL implementation and silicon validation

Nice to have

• Experience defining or influencing CPU architecture for emerging workloads, particularly AI/ML, agentic AI, or data center applications
• Experience with AI-driven architecture and design methodologies
• Strong perspective on memory-centric architectures and CPU-memory co-design
• Experience driving system-level PPA trade-offs
• Experience taking architectural concepts through RTL implementation, tape-out, and silicon validation
• Experience leading cross-functional architecture initiatives
• Proven ability to mentor and develop senior technical engineers
• Track record of impactful architectural innovation through patents, publications, or deployed products

Benefits

• Incentive opportunities based on individual and company performance
• Medical/Dental/Vision
• 401k
• Charitable giving match
• 4+ weeks of paid time off a year, plus holidays and sick leave
• Stipend for fertility care or adoption
• Caregiver support
• Medical travel support
• On-demand apps and free confidential therapy sessions
• Onsite Café and gym
• Virtual classes
• Flexible environment

Before you apply

• Each candidate is limited to 10 applications across all open jobs within a 6-month period
• AI tools should not be used to generate or assist with submitted content or live interview responses

About the company

Samsung Semiconductor is a global leader whose technology solutions power smartphones, electric vehicles, hyperscale data centers, and IoT devices.