Axelera AI

Staff Engineer – CPU & ISA Architecture

Axelera AI

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Remote

Location: Remote • 🇮🇹 Italy

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Job Level

Lead

Tech Stack

AssemblyCloudLinux

About the role

  • Research, design, and evaluate CPU microarchitectural components (pipelines, fetch/decode, branch prediction, caches, memory hierarchy, OoO/rename/issue, interconnects, SIMD/vector/matrix units). Analyze and optimize PPA trade-offs for AI, HPC, and cloud workloads.
  • Build and validate performance/functional models, run simulations, and correlate results to RTL to guide architectural decisions.
  • Develop and evaluate architectural extensions within RISC-V; assess their performance, programmability, and toolchain compatibility.
  • Propose, model, and prototype new mechanisms to improve efficiency, scalability, and performance.
  • Work closely with hardware, compiler, and system teams to align roadmaps and enable new capabilities. Stay ahead of trends in CPU, memory, interconnect, and AI-adjacent architectures.

Requirements

  • MS/PhD in CE/EE/CS (or related field) with focus on CPU architecture or microarchitecture.
  • Deep expertise in CPU design (pipelines, memory systems, coherence, SIMD/vector/matrix units), PPA optimisation, and ISA extensions (RISC-V, ARM, x86).
  • Skilled in performance modeling and simulation (e.g., gem5, ChampSim, Sniper, QEMU), cycle-accurate and trace-driven analysis, and correlation to RTL.
  • Experienced in benchmarking and workload characterisation (SPEC, MLPerf, or internal suites).
  • Proficient in RTL design and validation (Verilog/SystemVerilog/Chisel), including simulation, synthesis, and FPGA/emulation bring-up.
  • Knowledge of compiler/toolchain integration, low-level software (C/C++/assembly), Linux kernel/driver development, and performance tuning for ISA features.
  • Strong analytical, collaborative, and communication skills with proven ability to drive architectural proposals from concept to validation.
  • Fluent in English
  • Able to work from one of our European offices or remotely, preferably based in Bavaria (Munich), Belgium, or Italy.
Benefits
  • pension plan
  • extensive employee insurances
  • option to get company shares

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard skills
CPU microarchitecturePPA optimizationRISC-Vperformance modelingsimulationRTL designVerilogSystemVerilogCC++
Soft skills
analytical skillscollaborative skillscommunication skills