Principal Performance Architect

Job Title

Principal Performance Architect

Role Summary

Join the MAIA Architecture Team within Microsoft Silicon, Cloud Hardware, and Infrastructure Engineering (SCHIE) to define and deliver operational measures for hardware manufacturing and cloud infrastructure performance. The role focuses on SoC performance and power optimization for AI workloads across design, verification, and architecture teams.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Typical experience expectations (per posting): ranges equivalent to early-career through senior depending on degree; see Education Requirements for specific degree/experience combinations. Technical experience in performance modeling and SoC/accelerator analysis is required.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities center on SoC performance modeling, analysis, and collaboration to close on performance targets for AI workloads.

• Collaborate with architects and provide critical feedback during SoC design.
• Use performance models to analyze bottlenecks for critical AI workloads.
• Prototype performance and power optimization opportunities and evaluate trade-offs for AI accelerators.
• Develop, test, and integrate SoC and IP performance models.
• Work continuously with design and performance verification teams to validate and close on SoC performance.

Requirements

Key technical and operational requirements. Education degree details are listed in Education Requirements below.

• 6+ years of experience in performance modeling and analysis at multiple abstraction levels (per posting).
• 4+ years of software experience with Python, C, and C++.
• Experience in architecture and workload analysis on GPUs and AI accelerators.
• Proven ability to prototype and evaluate performance and power optimizations and trade-offs.
• Experience developing and integrating SoC and IP models into analysis flows.
• Proven collaboration with architects, design, and verification teams to achieve performance targets.
• 1+ year experience leading or delivering projects end-to-end (preferred).
• Must be able to meet Microsoft Cloud Background Check and export-control eligibility requirements; successful hire must verify citizenship or protected status as required.
• Work site requirement: expected to be in-office three days per week; travel <25%.

Education Requirements

Posting specifies degree or equivalent experience combinations in technical fields: Doctorate (PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field (Doctorate +3 years required; preferred combinations listed Doctorate +5 years), Master’s degree in those fields (Master’s +6 years required; preferred Master’s +8 years), or Bachelor’s degree in those fields (Bachelor’s +8 years required; preferred Bachelor’s +12 years). The posting also allows equivalent practical experience in lieu of a formal degree.

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.