Nuvacore Lead SoC Architect at Nuvacore responsible for owning the SoC architecture including fabric, memory, I/O, power, and security. Set architectural direction and collaborate across design, verification, physical design, and software teams.
Responsibilities
We're looking for a Lead SoC Architect to own the SoC architecture surrounding our CPU core — fabric, memory, I/O, power, and security. You'll set architectural direction, make the system-level trade-offs, and work across design, verification, physical design, and software to see them through.
WHAT YOU WILL OWN
Own the overall SoC architecture: processor complex integration, fabric topology, system level cache hierarchy, I/O, power management, and memory subsystem.
Architect the coherent fabric — interconnect/NoC topology, home node design and placement, snoop filtering, and cache coherency protocol (e.g., CHI/ACE-class) — balancing bandwidth, latency, and QoS.
Size, partition, and place system-level caches and determine their interaction with the fabric and home nodes.
Architect the I/O subsystem: PCIe and CXL controller integration and topology.
Drive memory subsystem architecture: DDR5/DDR6 and LPDDR5/LPDDR6 controller design, interleaving, and DRAM QoS/scheduling.
Establish System MMU (SMMU) architecture and I/O virtualization/translation strategy.
Architect die-to-die interconnect and chiplet partitioning for multi-die configurations (e.g., UCIe-class links).
Select, integrate, and evaluate in-house and third-party IP across the SoC, driving customization with vendors or internal IP teams as needed.
Partner with physical design and packaging teams on floorplan, 2.5D/3D packaging, and power/thermal trade-offs.
Provide top down vision/strategy and stay closely aligned with power architecture and management (clocking, reset, power states) and security architecture (domain isolation, secure boot, hardware trust boundaries), even where dedicated teams own execution.
Qualification
20+ years in SoC or system architectureStrong written and verbal communicationMS or PhD in Electrical EngineeringThe next great CPU won't build itself
Required
20+ years in SoC or system architecture, from definition through tape-out and production.
Deep expertise in coherent/non-coherent interconnect and fabric architecture, home node design, and coherency protocols.
Strong grounding in cache hierarchies and memory controller design (DDR5/DDR6, LPDDR5/LPDDR6).
Working knowledge of PCIe/CXL I/O architecture and System MMU/IO virtualization.
Experience with die-to-die interconnect and chiplet-based partitioning.
Track record integrating in-house and third-party IP, including direct work with vendors and internal IP teams.
Working knowledge of physical design constraints (floorplan, packaging, power delivery, thermal) and their architectural impact.
Working knowledge of power architecture/management and security architecture at the SoC level.
Demonstrated ability to lead architecture definition across a matrixed organization.
Strong written and verbal communication.
MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field, or equivalent experience.
The next great CPU won't build itself. We’re assembling a world-class team across every layer of CPU development, from architecture and design to verification, physical implementation, software, infrastructure, and product delivery. Every discipline matters, and every person has the opportunity to help shape the technology from the ground up.
