Senior, CPU Architecture & Performance Research Engineer

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 day--including 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. Enigneer, CPU Architecture & Performance Research What You’ll Do Architecture Research Lab is seeking Senior CPU Architecture & Performance Engineer to contribute to performance analysis and microarchitectural optimization of current and next-generation CPU (RISC-V) cores. This role emphasizes hands-on analysis, modeling, and close collaboration with architects and design teams to improve performance across real-world workloads. You will focus on executing well-defined performance studies, identifying bottlenecks, and helping translate architectural ideas into measurable performance gains Location: Daily onsite presence at our San Jose office in alignment with our Flexible Work policy Job ID: 42851 Perform performance analysis for CPU microarchitectural features under guidance from Staff and Principal engineers. Run architectural simulations and analyze results (IPC, CPI stacks, latency and throughput metrics). Identify performance bottlenecks in frontend, execution engine, or memory subsystems. Assist in evaluating design trade-offs using trace-driven or cycle-accurate models. Characterize workloads and benchmarks (SPEC, server, client, internal traces). Develop scripts and tools to automate performance analysis. Work leading to patents and publication. What You Bring Master’s, or PhD in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field. 2+ years of experience in CPU microarchitecture and/or performance engineering. 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. Experience analyzing large performance datasets and traces. Familiarity with compiler optimizations and hardware/software co-design. Preferred Qualifications Experience with RISC-V, ARM or X86 architectures. Background in power/performance/area (PPA) trade-off analysis. Familiarity with SIMD / Vectors / VME for AI inference workloads. Prior tapeout / patent / publication experience. 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. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. 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 $138,000 — $206,000 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. Our Commitment to Innovation and Fairness At Samsung Semiconductor, we use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the recruitment process to enhance efficiency. However, AI is used as a support tool, not a final decision-maker. All hiring decisions are made by our human recruiting team and hiring managers to ensure every candidate is evaluated fairly and holistically. 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 ask that candidates rely on their own knowledge and skills throughout the process. 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