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Job description
Sr. Principal SoC Architect
Job Location: San Jose, CA (This position requires a full-time, on-site presence in our San Jose, CA office)
Job Number: AI2501
Company
SiMa.ai is the software‑centric, embedded edge machine learning system‑on‑chip (MLSoC) company. SiMa.ai delivers ONE Platform for Edge AI that flexibly adjusts to any framework, network, model, sensor, or modality. Edge ML applications that run completely on the SiMa.ai MLSoC and Modalix product family see a tenfold increase in performance and energy efficiency, bringing higher fidelity intelligence to ML use cases spanning computer vision to generative AI, in minutes. With SiMa.ai, customers unlock new paths to revenue and significant cost savings to innovate at the edge across robotics, industrial manufacturing, retail, aerospace, defense, agriculture, and healthcare. SiMa.ai was founded in 2018, has raised $355M and is backed by Fidelity Management & Research Company, Maverick Capital, Point72, MSD Partners, VentureTech Alliance and more.
With the tremendous success of multiple generations of Machine Learning System on a Chip (MLSoC) optimized for the physical AI market, SiMa.ai is actively working on expanding into the automotive and humanoid Robots market. We are looking for a Chief SoC Architect to help define next generation SoC architecture and software architecture targeting these new markets. This person will ensure that SiMa.ai has industry’s best silicon and software architecture for these markets.
Key Responsibilities
Drive end‑to‑end SoC architecture in collaboration with Silicon and Software Engineering. Identify architecture requirements for target workloads and the system partitioning required.
Architect next‑generation MLSoC platforms enabling a cohesive scalable architecture that balances performance, power, cost, and programmability.
Work with Silicon Engineering on Third‑Party IP strategy.
Drive forward‑looking architecture for emerging workloads. Anticipate and define architectural innovations required for GenAI (transformers, multimodal models), robotics, and real‑time AI systems. Translate workload insights into concrete hardware and software architectural features.
Drive HW/SW Co‑Design at system scale. Identify and drive critical hardware/software trade‑offs across silicon, system software, compilers, and runtime. Partner deeply with silicon, firmware, and compiler/toolchain teams to deliver optimized, production‑ready solutions.
Own performance architecture and roadmap. Establish a data‑driven methodology to analyze workload performance (GenAI, CNNs, transformers), identify bottlenecks, and define architectural improvements. Drive these into future silicon generations with measurable impact.
Collaborate with Software Engineering to define software architecture requirements. Scope and drive key platform software capabilities (e.g., virtualization, safety islands, isolation, system orchestration). Ensure tight alignment between silicon capabilities and system software stack.
Influence and guide engineering execution. Work hands‑on with hardware and software engineering teams to translate architectural vision into implementation. Serve as the ultimate technical escalation point for complex architectural decisions.
Represent and evangelize architecture internally and externally. Articulate platform architecture and technical vision to customers, partners, and internal stakeholders. Play a key role in strategic customer engagements and enablement.
Establish industry thought leadership. Track industry trends, identify disruptive technologies, and drive adoption where strategically beneficial. Represent the company in key industry forums, standards bodies, and technical communities.
Author deep technical documents. Author high‑quality architectural specifications, whitepapers, and technical analyses that guide engineering teams and communicate complex technicalities and trade‑offs with clarity.
Required Background
PhD or MS in electrical engineering or computer science with 20+ years of experience developing products/platforms involving hardware with a focus on optimizing for performance and power.
At least three years of experience in architecting and tape‑out of significant and substantial ML engineering products (complex SoCs, advanced process nodes, from concept to production) that involve silicon and software.
Significant contributor to successful silicon product delivery (industry‑leading, complex SoCs, advanced process nodes, from concept to production).
Demonstrated technical expertise to research, scope and solve complex problems in a multidisciplinary and cross‑functional organization.
Experience working closely with silicon engineering and software teams on productizing architectural concepts.
Experience evangelizing and presenting to customers and leadership teams; participation in and driving key industry forums desired.
Strong mathematical foundation in machine learning and deep learning.
Must have co‑authored internal technical presentations, research papers and disclosures/patents on SoC related topics (preferably published and presented technical papers at industry forums).
Personal Attributes
Can do attitude, execution and results focus, highly accountable, strong team player, high integrity, visionary, and innovative. Capable of handling difficult conversations in a professional manner.
The annual salary for this position ranges from $231,100 to $358,200. The actual annual salary paid for this position will be based on several factors, including but not limited to, skills, prior experiences, qualifications, expertise, work location, total target compensation, training, company needs, and current market demands. The annual salary range for this position is subject to change and may be adjusted in the future.
EEO Employer
SiMa is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status or any other protected classification.
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Worksite address
san jose, CA, 95199, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.