AI Performance Modeling Architect- CPU/SOC

We are seeking a Performance Modeling Architect to develop and maintain modeling and simulation frameworks that support architecture and design decisions for advanced computing platforms. In this role, you will create analytical and simulation models that evaluate interactions between complex workloads, software environments, and underlying hardware systems. These models will enable detailed assessment of system-level tradeoffs and performance characteristics across a range of architectural approaches. You will model processing architectures, platform components, software behavior, and overall system dynamics to provide insights into real-world performance outcomes. Working across hardware and software domains, you will help drive co-design efforts, assess design alternatives, and quantify impacts on performance, responsiveness, scalability, efficiency, and resource utilization. Your contributions will play a key role in shaping future high-performance computing and intelligent processing solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop system-level performance models for AI workloads and compute architectures.
• Build simulation frameworks that capture interactions between AI models, software runtimes, and hardware systems.
• Model key components of SoC architecture including compute units, memory hierarchies, and interconnects.
• Incorporate relevant software and runtime behavior into modeling frameworks to reflect realistic system execution.
• Analyze system bottlenecks and evaluate architectural tradeoffs across the platform.
• Work closely with hardware architects to guide microarchitectural and system-level design decisions.
• Collaborate with software and ML teams to incorporate realistic workloads into modeling.
• Use modeling and simulation to evaluate performance, latency, throughput, and energy efficiency across target applications.

• Strong experience in computer architecture, system architecture, or performance modeling.
• Experience building simulation or analytical models of complex hardware systems.
• Strong programming skills (Python, C++, or similar) for modeling and simulation.
• Understanding of modern compute architectures such as CPUs, GPUs, or AI accelerators.
• Ability to analyze complex systems and identify performance bottlenecks.
• Strong quantitative reasoning and ability to translate models into architectural insights.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience modeling AI workloads or machine learning systems.
• Familiarity with architectural simulators or performance modeling tools.
• Experience with memory systems, interconnect architectures, or accelerator design.
• Exposure to hardware-software co-design methodologies.
• Experience modeling performance across multiple layers of the stack, including software runtimes and hardware platforms.

Work Environment

Work involves collaborating across hardware and software domains to drive co-design efforts. The role requires a strong understanding of computer architecture and involves using advanced simulation and analytical tools to evaluate system performance across various compute architectures. The work environment is dynamic and focused on innovation in high-performance computing and intelligent processing solutions., Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.