Principal CPU Software Architect

Job Title

Principal CPU Software Architect

Role Summary

Architect system software for next‑generation CPUs and SoCs, working across hardware, software, ASIC design, verification, and platform teams to maximize SoC performance for AI, data center, and high‑performance computing workloads.

Collaborate with internal teams, industry partners, and customers to influence hardware decisions from a software and systems perspective.

Experience Level

Senior — 15+ years of software and/or architecture experience with CPUs and SoCs.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include defining software-driven hardware requirements and enabling optimized software stacks on NVIDIA SoCs.

• Collaborate with hardware and software engineers to define CPU and SoC architecture and interfaces.
• Drive hardware decisions by specifying system software requirements and trade-offs.
• Provide architectural direction and technical guidance to multiple software engineering teams.
• Work with partners and customers to adapt solutions to specific requirements.
• Research industry trends relevant to NVIDIA markets and advise senior management on strategic direction.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience; nice-to-have items are listed separately.

• Must-have: 15+ years of software and/or architecture experience with CPUs and SoCs.
• Must-have: Deep knowledge of OS/driver stacks (e.g., Linux) and strong software development experience in C.
• Must-have: Proven ability to translate software needs into hardware design decisions and to lead cross-functional engineering efforts.
• Must-have: Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work effectively on global teams.

• Nice-to-have: Familiarity with ARM, RISC‑V, or x86 processor architectures.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with virtualization technologies and hypervisors.
• Nice-to-have: Knowledge of CPU/SoC security architectures (e.g., ARM Confidential Compute) and experience engaging with the Linux open source community.

Education Requirements

MS or PhD in Computer or Electrical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience; equivalent industry experience acceptable in lieu of degree.

About the Company

Company: NVIDIA

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA

NVIDIA is a global leader in accelerated computing, renowned for its innovative solutions in AI and digital twins that transform diverse industries. The company specializes in networking technologies, providing end-to-end InfiniBand and Ethernet solutions for servers and storage that optimize performance and scalability. NVIDIA serves sectors such as high-performance computing, enterprise data centers, and cloud computing, constantly reinventing its products and services to stay ahead in the market.