CPU Performance Architect
Originally posted 30 October 2026 by the employer. Relisted by the employer on 31 October 2026.
About the role
NVIDIA is seeking a CPU Performance Architect to join the CPU Performance Architecture team in Santa Clara, CA. In this role, you will evaluate and optimize CPU microarchitecture across performance, timing, power, and area metrics.
What you'll do
- Improve CPU performance by modeling potential microarchitectural improvements to determine merit and feasibility.
- Partner with lead microarchitects to meet the CPU core’s performance, area, and power targets.
- Resolve critical issues related to timing, power, and area to achieve implementation.
- Collaborate with build, verification, and post-silicon teams to implement microarchitectural improvements.
- Advocate for microarchitectural ideas by communicating trade-offs and benefits across various mediums.
What you'll need
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- At least 8 years of experience in a frontline role within brand new CPU projects.
- Deep understanding of CPU microarchitecture and architecture.
- Demonstrated track record of CPU microarchitectural innovation across areas such as Front End CPU Uarch, Midcore CPU Uarch, and Memory Subsystem CPU Uarch.
- Experience in performance modeling, debugging, and demonstrating the merit of microarchitectural ideas.
Skills: CPU microarchitecture, performance modeling, timing, power, area
More semiconductor jobs: NVIDIA jobs · SoC design jobs · California jobs
This role has been open 200 days — well above the 72-day median for SoC/Chip Architecture roles.
SoC/Chip Architecture · SOC Architecture
|
Open roles in category
469
|
Median days open
72 d
|
Category median salary (all employers)
$233k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | NVIDIA | All employers we track in this specialty (469 roles · 66 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 62 | 469 |
| Open roles in the wider Digital Design & Verification family | 257 | 3355 · 114 employers |
| Median days open | 73 d | 72 d (+1 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $233k |
Skills observed across this category: CPU microarchitecture, performance modeling, timing, power, area
Who's hiring in this category
- Qualcomm · 79 open roles · median 85 d
- NVIDIA (this employer) · 52 open roles · median 71 d
- Apple · 44 open roles · median 22 d
- AMD · 39 open roles · median 60 d
- Arm Holdings · 30 open roles · median 3 d
- Micron Technology · 21 open roles · median 107 d
How we counted: 469 open SoC/Chip Architecture (SOC Architecture) roles from 66 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 31 Oct 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Digital Design & Verification family row. Figures refresh nightly.