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CPU Performance Modeling (Lead & ICs)

Nuvacore
USA
Full-time
Senior · 20+ years experience
Hybrid
USD 140000-300000 yearly / year
Discovered 1 weeks ago
C++PythonPerlgem5

Full Job Posting

THE ROLE

Design, develop and own Nuvacore’s cycle-accurate CPU performance simulator — its architecture, fidelity, and long-term roadmap — as the authoritative reference model for the design team.

Lead microarchitectural exploration across all major CPU domains: frontend (fetch, decode, branch prediction), out-of-order engine (rename, dispatch, execution), and memory subsystem (caches, prefetchers, TLBs, coherence).

Drive model-to-RTL correlation through all execution phases; own debug and resolution of performance miscorrelation between the performance model, RTL simulation, and post-silicon results.

Collaborate closely with design, verification, compiler, and system software teams to align architecture decisions with implementation constraints and software stack realities.

Mentor engineers across the performance team; provide technical leadership on modeling methodology, simulation infrastructure, and analysis tooling.

Contribute to IP development through patents and, where applicable, external publication

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

Performance model: Cycle-accurate C++ simulator — architecture, calibration, and correlation against RTL and silicon.

Workload analysis: Benchmark characterization (SPEC, Geekbench, AI/ML, cloud, client traces) and bottleneck identification.

Microarch exploration: PPA trade-off studies and feature proposals across the full CPU pipeline — frontend through memory subsystem.

Cross-team alignment: Architecture-to-implementation bridge: design, verification, compiler, and OS/system software partners

REQUIREMENTS — MUST HAVE

  • MS in Computer Architecture, Computer Engineering, or related field (PhD preferred).
  • 20+ years (Lead) or 8+ years (ICs) in CPU microarchitecture and/or performance engineering.
  • 20+ years (Lead) or 8+ years (ICs) of hands-on experience with cycle-accurate C++ CPU performance simulators (e.g. gem5 or equivalent in-house tools).
  • Deep expertise in at least one of: branch prediction, fetch/decode, rename/dispatch, OOO execution, memory subsystem, or prefetchers.
  • Strong C++ and Python / Perl skills; ability to write and analyze assembly for microarchitectural test cases.
  • Proven track record driving performance from pathfinding through silicon (RTL correlation and/or post-Si debug).
  • Experience in RISC-V or ARM64 or x86 ISA.
  • Strong track record in identifying ideas to improve power/performance/area (PPA) of CPUs.
  • Experience developing trace-based and execution-driven CPU performance simulators.

REQUIREMENTS — NICE TO HAVE

  • Experience with compiler optimizations and hardware/software co-design.
  • Published work or filed patents in CPU performance or microarchitecture.
  • Prior principal-level role at a CPU design organization.

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