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Cpu Architect Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Nvidia

Senior CPU Performance Architect

Santa Clara, CA

$196K/yr

Come join the CPU performance architecture team and help us push performance boundaries for all our CPU products! What you'll be doing: * Work on workload bring-up and performance analysis/projection ...

Nvidia

Senior CPU Performance Architect

Hillsboro, OR

$181K/yr

Come join the CPU performance architecture team and help us push performance boundaries for all our CPU products! What you'll be doing: * Work on workload bring-up and performance analysis/projection ...

Nvidia

Senior CPU Performance Architect

Santa Clara, CA

$196K/yr

Come join the CPU performance architecture team and help us push performance boundaries for all our CPU products! What you'll be doing: * Work on workload bring-up and performance analysis/projection ...

Nvidia

Senior CPU Performance Architect

Hillsboro, OR

$181K/yr

Come join the CPU performance architecture team and help us push performance boundaries for all our CPU products! What you'll be doing: * Work on workload bring-up and performance analysis/projection ...

Nvidia

Senior CPU Performance Architect

Austin, TX

$165K/yr

Come join the CPU performance architecture team and help us push performance boundaries for all our CPU products! Whatyou'llbe doing: * Study workloads for a wide range of markets, including CSP, HPC ...

Nvidia

Senior CPU Performance Architect

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$196K/yr

Come join the CPU performance architecture team and help us push performance boundaries for all our CPU products! Whatyou'llbe doing: * Study workloads for a wide range of markets, including CSP, HPC ...

Nvidia

Senior CPU Performance Architect

Hillsboro, OR

$181K/yr

Come join the CPU performance architecture team and help us push performance boundaries for all our CPU products! Whatyou'llbe doing: * Study workloads for a wide range of markets, including CSP, HPC ...

Intel Corporation

CPU Verification Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$105K - $200K/yr

Collaborate closely with CPU architect and RTL designers to verify complex architectural and microarchitectural features. * Document verification strategies and lead technical reviews with design and ...

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Cpu Architect information

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$156.5K

$168K

How much do cpu architect jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for cpu architect in the United States is $167,842.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $167,000.00 and $167,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Cpu Architect vs Hardware Engineer?

AspectCpu ArchitectHardware Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields; certifications like IEEE or industry-specific trainingBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields; similar certifications
Work EnvironmentDesign-focused, R&D labs, collaborative teams, often involved in architecture and system-level decisionsDevelopment and testing labs, manufacturing environments, hands-on hardware design and testing
Employer & Industry UsageSemiconductor companies, tech firms, R&D departmentsElectronics manufacturers, tech companies, hardware development firms

Cpu Architects focus on designing and developing CPU architectures, working on system-level specifications and performance optimization. Hardware Engineers handle the physical design, testing, and implementation of hardware components. While both roles require similar educational backgrounds and certifications, Cpu Architects are more involved in high-level design, whereas Hardware Engineers focus on physical hardware development and testing.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a CPU Architect, and why are they important?

To thrive as a CPU Architect, you need a strong background in computer engineering, digital logic design, and microarchitecture, often supported by a relevant degree and experience in processor design. Familiarity with hardware description languages (HDL) like Verilog or VHDL, simulation tools, and industry-standard protocols is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you collaborate and innovate within multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure the development of high-performance, reliable processors that meet complex technical requirements and drive technological advancement.

What does a CPU architect do?

A CPU architect is responsible for designing and developing the core components and structure of central processing units (CPUs) used in computers and other electronic devices. Their work involves defining the architecture, instruction sets, and performance features of processors to meet the needs of various applications. CPU architects collaborate with hardware engineers, software developers, and product teams to ensure the processor delivers optimal performance, energy efficiency, and compatibility. They also play a key role in addressing emerging technology trends and advancing processor capabilities.

What are some typical challenges faced by CPU Architects when collaborating with cross-functional teams?

CPU Architects often work closely with hardware designers, software engineers, and verification teams. A common challenge is ensuring that the CPU design balances performance, power consumption, and area constraints while also aligning with the broader product roadmap. Effective communication is essential to translate complex architectural concepts into actionable requirements for other teams. Additionally, CPU Architects must frequently adapt to changing technology trends and customer needs, which requires flexibility and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
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Cpu Architect jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cpu Architect job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $167,842 per year, or $80.7 per hour.
Senior CPU Performance Architect

Senior CPU Performance Architect

Nvidia

Santa Clara, CA

$196K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Do you want to help drive the development of CPU technology for architectures used for artificial intelligence (AI) / deep learning (DL), high-performance computing (HPC), cloud service providers (CSP), gaming, virtual reality, and autonomous vehicles? Come join the CPU performance architecture team and help us push performance boundaries for all our CPU products!

What you'll be doing:

  • Work on workload bring-up and performance analysis/projection, both on silicon and full-system simulator.

  • Study workloads for a wide range of markets, including AI/DL, CSP, HPC, and autonomous vehicles.

  • Study real world use-cases and identify critical application behavior and reduce to directed test cases.

  • Analyze and debug performance scaling bottlenecks on multi-core and multi-socket CPU and CPU/GPU systems.

  • Work with CPU and interconnect architects to improve future CPU and system designs based on your findings.

  • Benchmark NVIDIA's CPU offerings against competition and suggest software or hardware improvements.

What we need to see:

  • BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience.

  • 12+ years of relevant experience.

  • Experience with CPU workloads and performance analysis.

  • Knowledge of performance test development and benchmarking for CPU and I/O.

  • Deep knowledge of CPU microarchitecture and system architecture.

  • Experience with the ARM instruction set architecture (ISA) preferable but not required.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

  • PhD or Research experience.

  • GPU driver experience.

  • Knowledge of GPU-accelerated workloads andmodeling performance of accelerated workloads.

  • Experience with performance optimization of AI frameworks such as PyTorch.

NVIDIA is a global leader in accelerated computing, delivering breakthroughs in AI, HPC, and advanced system design. Our technologies power transformative applications across industries - from robotics and autonomous vehicles to healthcare and climate research.With the introduction of theGrace CPU Superchip, and more recently, the announcement of the Vera CPU, NVIDIA has expanded into the CPU server market, complementing our world-class GPUs and SoCs. These CPUs play a critical role in orchestrating complex workloads with exceptional performance-per-watt efficiency. The CPU architecture team is driving innovations that integrate seamlessly with NVIDIA's broader technology stack, enabling faster AI model training, agentic use-cases, efficient data processing, and scalable cloud deployments.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 224,000 USD - 356,500 USD for Level 5, and 272,000 USD - 431,250 USD for Level 6.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until April 12, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Nvidia logo

About Nvidia

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It's a unique legacy of innovation that's fueled by great technology--and amazing people. Today, we're tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what's never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world's best talent.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Clara, CA, US

Year founded

1993

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