Principal, CPU Architecture & Performance Research Engineer

Company: Samsung Semiconductor
Location: San Jose
Posted on: February 19, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Please Note: To provide the best candidate experience amidst our high application volumes, each candidate is limited to 10 applications across all open jobs within a 6-month period. Advancing the World's Technology Together Our technology solutions power the tools you use every dayincluding smartphones, electric vehicles, hyperscale data centers, IoT devices, and so much more. Here, you'll have an opportunity to be part of a global leader whose innovative designs are pushing the boundaries of what's possible and powering the future. We believe innovation and growth are driven by an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce. We're dedicated to empowering people to be their true selves. Together, we're building a better tomorrow for our employees, customers, partners, and communities. Principal , CPU Architecture & Performance Research Engineer What You'll Do Architecture Research Lab is seeking Principal CPU Architecture & Performance Engineer to lead the definition, analysis, and optimization of next-generation CPU microarchitectures (RISC-V core). This role is focused on end-to-end performance: from architectural trade-offs and workload characterization to micro-architectural modeling, simulation, and silicon bring-up correlation. You will work closely with architecture, design, compiler, and system teams to drive performance and efficiency across a broad set of real-world workloads Location: Daily onsite presence at our San Jose office in alignment with our Flexible Work policy Job ID: 42849 Define and evaluate CPU micro-architectural features for future cores (frontend, execution engine, memory hierarchy, interconnect). Lead performance analysis using simulators, RTL. Help develop and validate performance models (cycle-accurate, trace-driven, statistical). Characterize workloads (SPEC, server, client, AI/ML, cloud, internal traces) and translate findings into architectural requirements. Identify performance bottlenecks and propose data-driven optimizations. Drive architecture-to-implementation alignment with design team. Collaborate with compiler, OS, and system architects on cross-stack performance issues. Mentor senior and staff engineers; provide technical leadership across projects. Work leading to patents and publication What You Bring Master's with 18 years of experience in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field. or PhD with 15 years of experience preferred. 10 years of experience in CPU microarchitecture and/or performance engineering. Experience with RISC-V, ARM or X86 architectures. Strong understanding of: Out-of-order execution, branch prediction, pipelines, and speculation Cache coherence, memory systems, prefetching, and NUMA effects Hands-on experience with architectural simulators (like gem5). Strong programming skills in C/C++ and Python. Familiarity with compiler optimizations and hardware/software co-design. Familiarity with SIMD / Vectors / VME for AI inference workloads. Experience analyzing large performance datasets and traces. Proven ability (Tapeout / Patents /Publications) to influence architecture / micro architectural decisions through quantitative analysis. Preferred Qualifications Background in power/performance/area (PPA) trade-off analysis. Experience with SIMD/Vectors. Experience with compiler optimizations and hardware/software co-design. Prior technical leadership at Senior Staff or Principal level. You're inclusive, adapting your style to the situation and diverse global norms of our people. You approach challenges with curiosity and resilience, seeking data to help build understanding. You're collaborative, building relationships, humbly offering support and openly welcoming approaches. Innovative and creative, you proactively explore new ideas and adapt quickly to change. LI-SF1 What We Offer The pay range below is for all roles at this level across all US locations and functions. Individual pay rates depend on a number of factors—including the role's function and location, as well as the individual's knowledge, skills, experience, education, and training. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance. This is in addition to our diverse package of benefits centered around the wellbeing of our employees and their loved ones. In addition to the usual Medical/Dental/Vision/401k, our inclusive rewards plan empowers our people to care for their whole selves. An investment in your future is an investment in ours. Give Back With a charitable giving match and frequent opportunities to get involved, we take an active role in supporting the community. Enjoy Time Away You'll start with 4 weeks of paid time off a year, plus holidays and sick leave, to rest and recharge. Care for Family Whatever family means to you, we want to support you along the way—including a stipend for fertility care or adoption, medical travel support, and virtual vet care for your fur babies. Prioritize Emotional Wellness With on-demand apps and free confidential therapy sessions, you'll have support no matter where you are. Stay Fit Eating well and being active are important parts of a healthy life. Our onsite Café and gym, plus virtual classes, make it easier. Embrace Flexibility Benefits are best when you have the space to use them. That's why we facilitate a flexible environment so you can find the right balance for you. Base Pay Range $219,000—$351,000 USD Equal Opportunity Employment Policy Samsung Semiconductor takes pride in being an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to fostering an environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered to excel, regardless of race, religion, color, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, or veteran status. When selecting team members, we prioritize talent and qualities such as humility, kindness, and dedication. We extend comprehensive accommodations throughout our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long-term conditions, neurodivergent individuals, or those requiring pregnancy-related support. All candidates scheduled for an interview will receive guidance on requesting accommodations. Recruiting Agency Policy We do not accept unsolicited resumes. Only authorized recruitment agencies that have a current and valid agreement with Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. are permitted to submit resumes for any job openings. Applicant AI Use Policy At Samsung Semiconductor, we support innovation and technology. However, to ensure a fair and authentic assessment, we prohibit the use of generative AI tools to misrepresent a candidate's true skills and qualifications. Permitted uses are limited to basic preparation, grammar, and research, but all submitted content and interview responses must reflect the candidate's genuine abilities and experience. Violation of this policy may result in immediate disqualification from the hiring process. Applicant Privacy Policy https://semiconductor.samsung.com/about - us/careers/us/privacy/

Keywords: Samsung Semiconductor, San Francisco , Principal, CPU Architecture & Performance Research Engineer, IT / Software / Systems , San Jose, California