Senior AI Silicon Architect

Job Title

Senior AI Silicon Architect

Role Summary

Define and deliver silicon architecture for AI accelerators within Microsoft Cloud Hardware. The role focuses on early specification and architecture decisions that improve planning, manufacturability, quality, delivery, scale, and cost for cloud hardware.

Experience Level

Senior. Typical guidance: roughly 5+ years' relevant engineering experience for candidates with a Bachelor's degree; shorter experience requirements apply for higher degrees (see Education Requirements).

Responsibilities

Lead architecture and specification work and guide cross-functional teams through the full ASIC development lifecycle.

• Provide technical leadership across all phases of ASIC development, with emphasis on early specification and architecture (security, debug, telemetry, RAS, error handling, firmware/software interface, boot/reset flows, power management).
• Develop silicon architecture specifications for AI accelerators.
• Collaborate with AI software and hardware teams to drive optimal architectures for current and future AI models.
• Support and guide design, design verification, emulation, firmware, and kernel teams through end-to-end silicon development, tape-out, bring-up, validation, and production readiness.
• Balance system-level trade-offs (performance, power, area, cost, time-to-market) and drive hardware/software co-design.

Requirements

Core technical and operational capabilities required or strongly preferred for success in this role.

• Must-have: Proven technical leadership in silicon architecture and experience specifying architecture for AI accelerators and large SoC designs.
• Must-have: Demonstrated ability to drive cross-functional collaboration across architecture, design, verification, software, firmware, product engineering, and systems teams.
• Must-have: Familiarity with security, telemetry, debug, RAS, error handling, firmware interfaces, boot/reset flows, and power management at the system level.
• Must-have: Experience supporting design, DV, emulation, firmware, and bring-up activities through tape-out and production readiness.
• Must-have: Ability to pass Microsoft Cloud background check and meet export-control eligibility; successful candidates must provide proof of citizenship or lawful residency as required for access to controlled information.
• Nice-to-have: Experience leading multiple end-to-end silicon programs through architecture, design, tape-out, bring-up, validation, and production readiness.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with high-power, large-scale SoC and multi-chiplet architectures, hardware/software co-design for AI/HPC, ARM Coresight components, confidential compute, or FIT rate analysis.

Education Requirements

Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field (plus 1+ year technical engineering experience) OR Master’s in those fields (plus 4+ years) OR Bachelor’s in those fields (plus 5+ years) OR equivalent practical experience. Fields referenced: 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.