Principal SoC Performance Architect — Next-Generation Server Platforms

Job Title

Principal SoC Performance Architect — Next-Generation Server Platforms

Role Summary

Hands-on architect responsible for characterizing and improving performance of next-generation server platforms. The role combines workload characterization, silicon-level analysis, benchmarking, and architecture design to drive system performance for AI-at-scale and HPC workloads.

This position works with cross-functional hardware and software teams to define metrics, design microbenchmarks, identify bottlenecks, and translate findings into architectural improvements.

Experience Level

Senior (Principal) level. The posting specifies 10+ years of relevant system or hardware architecture experience.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include workload analysis on silicon, defining performance strategies, and guiding architecture decisions.

• Evaluate and analyze real-world workloads on production silicon with emphasis on AI-at-scale and HPC.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to define performance metrics, representative use cases, and benchmarking strategies.
• Design and implement targeted microbenchmarks to isolate and study architectural behaviors.
• Identify performance bottlenecks through detailed analysis and recommend actionable optimizations.
• Translate workload and silicon study insights into architectural improvements for performance and scalability.
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams to influence system-level design decisions.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance as the performance subject-matter expert across teams.
• Drive end-to-end validation from architecture through workload testing to silicon verification.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience; listed concisely.

• 10+ years of experience in system or hardware architecture.
• Experience with CPU/accelerator architectures, cache and memory subsystems, and I/O (PCIe, networking, or storage).
• Strong background in one of: high-performance I/O/networking (e.g., PCIe, CXL, InfiniBand, RoCE) OR performance optimization for HPC or cloud-scale systems.
• Proven expertise in benchmarking methodologies and development of custom microbenchmarks.
• Experience with performance analysis tools, profiling, and ideally simulation environments.
• Proficiency in SystemC, TLM, C++, and Python.
• Ability to navigate and contribute effectively within large, complex codebases.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with silicon bring-up or post-silicon performance analysis.
• Familiarity with performance simulators or architectural modeling tools.

Education Requirements

Master's or PhD in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

About the Company

Company: Arm

Headquarters: Cambridge, United Kingdom

ARM is a global leader in semiconductor and software design, driving innovation in computing technology. The company specializes in designing processors and systems that provide the essential building blocks for electronic devices. ARM's architecture is widely used in smartphones, servers, and IoT devices, and its collaborative culture fosters bold thinking, diversity, and high-impact benefits for its talented workforce.