PhD Research Intern, Hardware and Systems Architecture - 2027 - CA, Santa Clara, United States
$38 - $94 USD yearly
Originally posted 17 September 2026 by the employer.
About the role
This role involves conducting research in hardware and systems architecture for deep learning, humanoid robotics, and general computing, with a focus on future products 5-10 years out.
What you'll do
- Conduct research on algorithms, hardware, and system software for deep learning and robotics.
- Invent new techniques, technologies, methodologies, processes, and devices.
- Develop new methods and processes for research and scientific evaluation.
- Produce technology vision for future products.
What you'll need
- Pursuing a PhD Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Math.
- At least one year of research experience in computer architecture or computer systems (operating systems, distributed systems, compilers, or AI/ML systems).
- Strong programming ability in C, C++, and Python.
- Experience designing and evaluating research ideas through prototyping, simulation, modeling, or experimentation.
- Ability to communicate research ideas, methods, and results clearly.
Nice to have
- Experience with agentic techniques for computer architecture or specialized accelerators for deep-learning and humanoid robotics.
- Experience with systems infrastructure for LLM training, inference, agents/tools, or state management in agentic systems for humanoid robotics.
- Experience with AI/systems co-design.
- Experience contributing to research targeting conferences such as ISCA, ASPLOS, MICRO, HPCA, SOSP, MLSys, NSDI, or OSDI.
Skills: computer architecture, computer systems, deep learning, GPU systems, prototyping, simulation, modeling, AI/systems co-design
This role has been open 25 days — well below the 80-day median for SoC/Chip Architecture roles.
SoC/Chip Architecture · SOC Architecture
|
Open roles in category
453
|
Median days open
80 d
|
Median salary
$234k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | NVIDIA | All employers we track in this specialty (453 roles · 63 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 57 | 453 |
| Open roles in the wider Digital Design & Verification family | 233 | 3166 · 114 employers |
| Median days open | 67 d | 80 d (−13 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $234k |
Skills observed across this category: computer architecture, computer systems, deep learning, GPU systems, prototyping, simulation, modeling, AI/systems co-design
Who's hiring in this category
- Qualcomm · 72 open roles · median 84 d
- NVIDIA (this employer) · 59 open roles · median 67 d
- AMD · 35 open roles · median 63 d
- Apple · 34 open roles · median 7 d
- Arm Holdings · 27 open roles · median 110 d
- NXP Semiconductors · 21 open roles · median 112 d
How we counted: 453 open SoC/Chip Architecture (SOC Architecture) roles from 63 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 13 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.