Senior Staff Engineer Jobs in San Jose, CA

Position Summary

Samsung, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, is founded on a simple philosophy – the endless pursuit of excellence will create a better world for all. At Samsung Austin Research and Development Center (SARC) and Advanced Computing Lab (ACL), we are building a center of excellence for Intellectual Property (IP) that is applied to high-performance computing devices (mobile, automotive, and other custom market segments) consumed by millions of people around the world. Come build with us!

Role and Responsibilities

As a Senior Staff Engineer, GPU Modeling Architect, you will work on the design and development of high-performing functional and performance models that shape next-generation Samsung GPUs.

In this mid-to-senior individual contributor role, you will contribute to defining functional and performance modeling of various blocks of the GPU pipeline that drive architectural exploration and design decisions. You bring expertise in GPU architecture, functional and performance modeling, and performance validation, with a curiosity for translating complex architectural intent into efficient, scalable simulation environments.

· You are passionate about contributing to the design and development of cycle-approximate and functional and performance models for key GPU pipeline blocks—capturing architectural and micro-architectural behaviors for design and verification.

· You enjoy learning about building high-quality models to enable advanced GPU development. You architect, implement, and validate C++/SystemC-based GPU models, ensuring accuracy, scalability, and integration across hardware and software environments.

· You ensure design excellence by working on model-based performance validation and correlation, identifying bottlenecks, and proposing architectural and micro-architectural optimizations to improve GPU performance, power efficiency, and functionality.

· You proactively seek cross-functional collaboration with architects, RTL designers, verification engineers, and software teams to align modeling behavior with design intent, debug system-level interactions, and support early design bring-up.

· You take initiatives on moderate-to-complex projects and help advance best practices, methodologies by staying ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies.

Skills and Qualifications

• 11+ years of experience with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Computer Engineering/relevant technical field, or 9+ years of experience with a Master's degree, or 7+ years of experience with a PhD.
• 11+ years of experience in experience in software design and architecture.
• Hands-on experience in C++ programming, including STL, in a Linux environment.
• Understanding of GPU/CPU or computer architecture and micro-architecture concepts.
• Experience using development tools such as revision control systems, debuggers, and make/cmake.
• Familiarity in hardware modeling.
• Experience with performance profiling and analysis.
• RTL verification experience is preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify bottlenecks and proposing data-driven solutions.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced, global team environment.

Our Team

The GPU Architect team delivers whole system architecture-level design for Samsung’s current and next-generation mobile GPUs. Our work spans a wide range of disciplines—from early-stage architectural exploration and research in graphics and machine learning, to shaping the GPU innovation roadmap, defining new features, building models, and delivering microarchitecture design and programming. Our Xclipse GPU is the first mobile GPU with ray tracing technology that enables console-level graphics for Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

Joining our team means collaborating with talented engineers from diverse technical backgrounds across a global organization. Here you’ll contribute to the roadmap for next-generation technologies, broaden your expertise, and solve impactful challenges in a supportive environment that values collaboration, continuous learning, and growth.

Total Rewards

At Samsung – SARC/ACL, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $198,200 and $297,200. Your actual base pay will depend on variables that may include your education skills, qualifications, experience, and work location.

Samsung employees have access to benefits including: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k), onsite lunch, employee purchase program, tuition assistance (after 6 months), paid time off, student loan program, wellness incentives, and many more. In addition, regular full-time employees (salaried or hourly) are eligible for MBO bonus compensation, based on company, division, and individual performance.

Additionally, this role might be eligible to participate in long term incentive plan and relocation.

This is an exempt position, which is not eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Trade Secrets

By submitting an application, you agree not to disclose to Samsung or induce or encourage Samsung to use any confidential or proprietary information (including trade secrets) belonging to a current or former employer or other entity.

U.S. Export Control

This role may require access to information subject to U.S. export control laws. Applicants must be authorized to access such information or eligible for government authorization.

#SARC #ACL

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