SOC Power Architect
QualcommJob Title
SOC Power Architect
Role Summary
Design and define SoC-level power and limits systems to maximize performance while enforcing thermal and electrical constraints. Work across architecture, microarchitecture, software, silicon validation and product teams to specify, model, implement and validate power-control mechanisms and fast DCVS solutions for high-performance CPU, GPU and neural subsystems.
Experience Level
Senior-level. Typically requires extensive experience (multi-year senior track) in SoC power architecture and delivery systems; the posting emphasizes deep expertise in power and limits systems.
Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities focus on architecting and delivering power-control and limit systems for compute-intensive SoCs.
- Define SoC power and limits architecture and microarchitecture to meet performance, thermal, and electrical constraints.
- Design fast DCVS (dynamic clock and voltage scaling) and transient power-control mechanisms for high-frequency CPU/GPU/NSP subsystems.
- Specify interactions between hardware, firmware/driver software, and product-level policies to enforce limits with minimal SW intervention.
- Model, simulate, and validate power delivery and thermal behaviors across operating points and workloads.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including system architects, RTL/logic designers, validation, silicon bring-up and product teams.
- Document architecture and microarchitecture decisions and provide guidance for implementation and verification.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and domain experience; education requirements are listed separately below.
- Extensive experience in power and limits systems for SoCs (posting highlights strong experience; effectively senior/expert level).
- Familiarity with UPF and power-domain crossing practices.
- Experience with low-power design methodologies and clock-domain crossing (CDC) issues.
- Proficient scripting skills (Perl and Python) for automation, analysis and modeling.
- Strong system-level understanding of thermal and electrical constraints and transient power behavior.
- Nice-to-have: experience with post-silicon debug and silicon bring-up.
Education Requirements
Posting specifies: Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering or related field with 6+ years' relevant ASIC experience; or Master's degree in Science, Engineering or related field with 5+ years' relevant experience; or PhD in Science, Engineering or related field with 4+ years' relevant experience. (Equivalent practical experience is implied by the degree-based experience alternatives.)
About the Company
Company: Qualcomm
Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.
