Lead System Architect

Lead Systems Architect – Hardware & Software

Location: San Jose, CA

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Lead Systems Architect to define end-to-end system architecture spanning ASIC/SoC silicon, board-level hardware, firmware, and low-level software.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience in server, data center, enterprise infrastructure, or semiconductor environments and be comfortable translating customer requirements into detailed technical specifications. You will work closely with engineering teams, customers, hyperscalers, OEMs, standards organizations, and ecosystem partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and develop detailed system architecture, micro-architecture, and platform requirements specifications.
• Define hardware/software partitioning and register-level interfaces.
• Drive architecture for SoCs involving AXI/AHB, memory hierarchies, PCIe, Ethernet, SPI, eSPI, I3C, and LTPI.
• Architect solutions for enterprise servers, server motherboards, BMC platforms, and cloud data centers.
• Define secure boot, Root of Trust (RoT), Platform Firmware Resiliency (PFR), and hardware security architectures.
• Collaborate with firmware teams on OpenBMC, Linux, device drivers, MCTP, PLDM, and Redfish.
• Support hardware teams with signal integrity, power delivery, thermal/mechanical, and platform integration considerations.
• Engage directly with enterprise customers, hyperscalers, OEMs, and technology partners.
• Present technical architecture, roadmaps, and specifications to customers and industry organizations.
• Support platform bring-up, validation, production, troubleshooting, and field issue resolution.
• Contribute to and align architectures with OCP DC-SCM / DC-SCI standards.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of system architecture or hardware engineering experience.
• Strong background in server, data center, enterprise infrastructure, or semiconductor ecosystems.
• Experience spanning SoC/ASIC, board-level hardware, and software/firmware.
• Strong understanding of server platforms and motherboard architecture.
• Hands-on experience with schematic capture, hardware bring-up, debugging, and laboratory equipment.
• Strong knowledge of PCIe, Ethernet, DRAM, USB, I2C, SMBus, SPI, UART, eSPI, MCTP, and LTPI.
• Experience with Linux, embedded firmware, RTOS, device drivers, and C/C++.
• Experience with BMC/OpenBMC and server management technologies is highly valuable.
• Strong understanding of hardware security, secure boot, Root of Trust, PFR, TPM/HSM, and cryptographic technologies.
• Experience taking hardware platforms through NPI/high-volume production, including yield improvement and RMA/field troubleshooting.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and customer-facing communication skills.
• Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with OCP DC-SCM / DC-SCI.
• Active participation in Open Compute Project (OCP) or similar infrastructure communities.
• Experience with OpenBMC, MCTP, PLDM, Redfish, NVMe-MI, and LTPI.
• Experience with Cadence OrCAD/Allegro.
• Knowledge of modern CPU/GPU architectures.
• Experience working with hyperscalers, server OEMs, or enterprise infrastructure customers.
• Python or Bash scripting experience.
• Experience with hardware supply-chain strategies, alternative components, and rapid board redesigns.