Principal AI Silicon Architect

Job Title

Principal AI Silicon Architect

Role Summary

The Principal AI Silicon Architect defines and drives architecture for AI core compute silicon used in Microsoft's cloud infrastructure. This role develops architecture specifications, functional and analytical models of IP blocks, and guides cross-functional teams through silicon development, validation, and bring-up.

The position partners with AI software and hardware teams to optimize architectures for current and future machine-learning workloads and supports operational measures for manufacturing, quality, scale, and delivery.

Experience Level

Senior (Principal). Typical background: experienced architect with leadership across silicon projects; hiring guidance in the posting indicates multi-year experience (see Education Requirements for degree-plus-experience combinations).

Responsibilities

Primary accountabilities for the role include:

• Define and drive high-performance AI silicon architecture direction and specifications for AI core compute.
• Develop functional and analytical models for silicon IP blocks and evaluate architecture trade-offs.
• Collaborate with AI software and hardware teams to align silicon architecture with machine-learning models and workloads.
• Support and guide design, design verification (DV), emulation, firmware, and kernel teams through end-to-end silicon development and bring-up.
• Contribute to planning for manufacturing quality, delivery, scalability, and sustainability for cloud hardware.
• Provide technical leadership during tape-out, validation, and system integration phases.

Requirements

Key non-education requirements and expectations.

• Ability to meet Microsoft Cloud background check and export-control eligibility; candidates must provide documentation of citizenship or residency as required for access to export-controlled information.
• Proven track record driving silicon architecture and delivering IP across the silicon lifecycle, including collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Experience influencing architecture decisions to meet performance, power, and cost objectives for AI workloads.

Nice-to-have technical skills and experience:

• Silicon architecture experience focused on AI compute (e.g., tensor/vector processing).
• End-to-end silicon project experience including tape-out, bring-up, and validation.
• Deep understanding of current and emerging ML models for training and inference, and numeric/data-format considerations (matrix multiplication, parallel computing).
• Strong implementation skills: C/C++, Verilog/SystemVerilog, RTL design, and bit-accurate C-model development.

Education Requirements

Required degree-and-experience combinations in the posting: Doctorate (PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field plus 3+ years technical engineering experience; OR Master's degree in those fields plus 6+ years; OR Bachelor's degree in those fields plus 8+ years; OR equivalent practical experience. Fields listed: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical disciplines.

About the Company

Company: Microsoft

Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States

Microsoft is a global technology company that develops and sells software, services, devices, and solutions. Known for its Windows operating system, Office suite, and Azure cloud platform, Microsoft aims to empower individuals and organizations around the world to achieve more. The company fosters a culture of innovation and inclusion, focusing on delivering trusted experiences to customers and partners globally.