Lead SoC Architect

About the Opportunity

A semiconductor startup developing next-generation graphics processors is seeking an experienced Lead SoC Architect to own architecture definition and technical direction for advanced compute platforms.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role combining individual contribution with cross-functional engineering leadership. Candidates must be local to the Bay Area and able to work on-site in Sunnyvale.

Responsibilities

- Define top-level SoC architecture, subsystem partitioning, interface specifications, and microarchitecture requirements.
- Evaluate tradeoffs across performance, power, area, bandwidth, latency, and scalability.
- Lead performance modeling, workload analysis, and bottleneck identification using C/C++/SystemC or similar tools.
- Define memory hierarchy, NoC/interconnect strategy, cache structures, and coherency architecture.
- Evaluate and integrate third-party IP, including compute, memory, connectivity, multimedia, and security subsystems.
- Collaborate with RTL, verification, physical design, firmware, software, and systems teams throughout development.
- Partner with verification teams on architectural test plans and validation strategies.
- Support silicon bring-up, debugging, performance tuning, and post-silicon optimization.
- Contribute to long-term technology and product roadmaps.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
- 10+ years of experience in SoC architecture, ASIC development, or complex semiconductor system design.
- Strong understanding of modern SoC architectures and subsystem integration.
- Expertise in one or more of the following:

CPU, GPU, or NPU architectures
- NoC/interconnect architectures
- Cache coherency protocols, including CHI, ACE, or CXL
- High-speed interfaces such as PCIe, UCIe, or Ethernet
- Memory systems such as DDR5, LPDDR5X, or HBM
- Power and performance optimization

- Strong knowledge of RTL development and verification methodologies.
- Experience with architecture modeling and performance analysis tools.
- Understanding of firmware/software interaction in complex SoC systems.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and technical leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with AI accelerators, GPUs, networking, RISC-V, or datacenter SoCs.
- Experience with chiplet-based or multi-die architectures.
- Familiarity with advanced process technologies and package integration.
- Experience with emulation, FPGA prototyping, and system-level validation.
- Knowledge of Linux drivers, runtime software, or system software architecture.
- Prior technical leadership across cross-functional engineering teams.