What are the responsibilities and job description for the SoC Architect position at Opticore?
SoC Architect – Compute Integration (OPU Platform)
About the Role
Opticore is seeking an experienced SoC Architect to lead the definition and development of next-generation custom silicon for our OPU (Optical Processing Unit) compute platform. This role owns the architecture that turns the OPU into a complete, production-ready system: the memory hierarchy, interconnects, and system-level tradeoffs that determine real-world performance, power, and cost.
You will work cross-functionally with internal design, verification, and software teams, as well as external silicon and IP partners, to translate platform requirements into a scalable SoC architecture, driving execution from concept through silicon delivery.
What You'll Do
- Define the architecture and technical roadmap for custom SoCs built around the OPU compute platform.
- Architect the memory subsystem (on-chip SRAM, shared cache hierarchy, and high-bandwidth external memory such as HBM and DDR) sized for the throughput and latency demands of OPU workloads.
- Define system interconnects (AXI, NoC, chiplet-to-chiplet links) connecting the OPU, memory, and surrounding system blocks.
- Drive system-level tradeoff analysis across compute, memory, interconnect, power, thermal, and cost constraints.
- Develop strategies for data tiling, buffering, and task mapping to maximize OPU utilization and minimize data-movement overhead.
- Lead hardware/software co-design efforts to maximize performance per watt and end-to-end system efficiency.
- Partner with external silicon vendors, IP providers, and manufacturing partners to execute development plans.
- Guide implementation teams through microarchitecture, RTL development, validation, and bring-up phases.
- Define debug, trace, and performance-monitoring features across the compute and memory subsystem.
- Operate effectively in agile development environments and help teams deliver against aggressive schedules and milestones.
You Might Thrive in This Role If
- You have proven experience defining and delivering complex SoC or ASIC architectures from concept to production.
- You have deep understanding of AI/ML compute architectures, memory-bound workloads, and energy-efficient compute design.
- You have strong knowledge of SoC subsystems including memory hierarchies (including HBM), interconnects, and power management.
- You have experience working with both internal engineering organizations and external strategic partners.
- You can lead cross-functional teams in fast-paced, execution-driven environments.
- You communicate clearly and can influence technical direction across organizations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with chiplet-based architectures and interconnect standards such as UCIe, UALink, or HBM.
- Background in performance modeling, silicon cost optimization, and workload-driven architecture.
- Familiarity with advanced process nodes and modern semiconductor development flows.
- Proven success taking a compute-heavy AI or HPC SoC through first silicon.
- Understanding of low-level data movement and memory optimization for AI compute workloads.