Senior CPU Architect / Design Engineer

Job Title

Senior CPU Architect / Design Engineer

Role Summary

Design and architect next-generation, memory-safe CPU cores for secure semiconductor products. You will work on high-level modelling, RTL development, and performance verification as part of a hardware engineering team focused on confidential computing.

The role is hybrid, based in the company's London or Bristol offices, and involves cross-disciplinary collaboration with software, SoC, verification and security teams.

Experience Level

Senior — 9+ years of relevant CPU microarchitecture or RTL design experience.

Responsibilities

Deliver end-to-end CPU architecture and design work, from concept through RTL and silicon bring-up. Key responsibilities include:

• Architect and define memory-safe and high-performance CPU microarchitectures.
• Create architecture specifications, circuit-level definitions, logic designs and system simulations.
• Drive design from high-level modelling to RTL development, synthesis, place-and-route, timing and power analysis, and verification.
• Innovate and evaluate architectural features such as memory safety mechanisms, speculative execution, out-of-order pipelines, branch prediction and ISA extensions.
• Assess trade-offs between complexity, power consumption and performance; optimise designs accordingly.
• Collaborate with software, SoC, verification, R&D and security teams to integrate and validate designs.
• Contribute to product roadmaps, lead design reviews and support silicon bring-up activities.
• Produce and review detailed technical documentation for peers and downstream teams.
• Work on a hybrid schedule and travel to meet customers or partners when required, while maintaining strict confidentiality.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience:

• 9+ years of experience in CPU microarchitecture or RTL design (architecting or significant contributor to high-performance CPU designs).
• Proven track record delivering or contributing to commercial CPU implementations.
• Practical experience with industry-standard EDA and design toolchains (examples: Cadence, Synopsys, OpenRoad).
• Experience leading engineering teams and driving technical deliveries.
• Strong skills in high-level modelling, RTL development, performance verification and debugging for silicon projects.
• Effective collaborator with clear technical communication and documentation skills.
• Commitment to working on secure systems and maintaining confidentiality.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with RISC-V and CHERI ISA concepts.
• Experience taking a design through to tape-out.
• Familiarity with security standards relevant to secure silicon platforms.

Education Requirements

B.Eng./B.Sc., M.Eng./M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or a related technical field, or equivalent industry experience.

About the Company

Company: SECQAI

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

SECQAI develops ultra-secure hardware and software for confidential computing, producing military-grade secure semiconductors and integrated solutions for governments and businesses. The company focuses on secure processor and SoC designs combining semiconductor, quantum, and AI technologies.