Embedded CPU Architect, Platform Architecture

Embedded CPU Architect, Platform Architecture Beaverton, Oregon, United States Hardware Summary Posted:

May 11, 2026

Role Number:

200662701-0505 We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative Embedded CPU Architect to join the Platform Architecture team. In this role, you will drive performance and efficiency optimization and architectural feature exploration for Apple's embedded CPUs that power critical functions across Apple's product line. Description As an Embedded CPU Architect, you will help define CPUs that are specifically designed for running embedded applications across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other Apple products. Your focus will be on understanding the unique constraints and opportunities of varied embedded use cases and translating those insights into improvements for both the software stack as well as the hardware including the CPU and its surrounding subsystem. You will be responsible for deep-dive performance analysis of embedded workloads, identifying bottlenecks in existing microarchitectures, and proposing optimization strategies that balance performance, power efficiency, and area. Working closely with algorithm teams, software engineers, and CPU designers, you will explore ISA extensions, microarchitecture enhancements, and system-level optimizations tailored to embedded use cases.

This role requires some background in software profiling, performance modeling, and simulation environments. You will use and develop analysis tools and infrastructure to enable data-driven architectural decisions, create and analyze both real workloads and benchmarks representative of embedded workloads, and iterate with design teams to ensure ideas are implementable within power, timing, and area constraints. Responsibilities Analyze performance characteristics of embedded workloads including real-time processing, audio DSP, always-on scenarios, and embedded ML inference Collaborate with system architecture and software teams to understand use case requirements that could be unique for each environment Translate findings into actionable improvements to our designs and software Work with CPU design team to implement proposed improvements while balancing tradeoffs for power, timing and area Provide feedback into and help develop performance models, simulators, and analysis tools used to support architectural exploration Minimum Qualifications BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or similar CPU architecture or microarchitecture experience Experience with performance simulation environments, and performance analysis or optimization of workloads Experience with one or more of the following

ISAs:

ARM, RISC-V, x86 Experience in C, C++, or similar programming languages Experience with scripting languages such as Python or Perl for analysis and automation Preferred Qualifications MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science 20+ years of industry experience in CPU architecture or performance analysis Expertise in CPU microarchitecture in one or more of the following areas: branch prediction, prefetching, pipeline optimization, datapath, memory hierarchy Experience in one or more of the following areas: embedded ML workloads and inference engines, SIMD/vector architectures for signal processing or ML, or compiler infrastructure and toolchain development for embedded workloads Experience with real-time operating systems and embedded software constraints

Understanding of:

power-performance trade-offs in CPU designs, system-level power management, and low-power design techniques Strong communication and collaboration skills across hardware and software teams Experience taking architectural ideas from concept through implementation Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You'll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong. Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.