Datacenter System Software Architect

About SiFive

The pioneers who introduced RISC-V to the world, SiFive is transforming the future of compute by enabling leading technology companies to innovate, optimize, and deliver advanced solutions across various markets. SiFive’s compute platforms are designed to meet the needs of artificial intelligence, machine learning, automotive, data center, mobile, and consumer applications.

Job Description

The Role: As a datacenter system software architect, you'll play a leading role in designing and implementing high-performance RISC-V Linux systems for datacenters, focusing on software and hardware architecture and engineering. You'll work closely with hardware architects and engage with key customers and partners to integrate their functional and performance requirements, ensuring SiFive systems are well-supported in software ecosystems.

Responsibilities

• Architect systems and system software for hyperscaler deployments based on RISC-V.
• Engage with key customers and partners to integrate their functional and performance requirements, understand key workloads, and ensure SiFive systems are well-supported in the associated software ecosystems.
• Help guide the development of RISC-V software and firmware stacks for servers, including platform controller firmware, platform firmware, hypervisors, Linux, and application stacks.
• Participate in the development of RISC-V standards pertaining to servers.
• Engage with RISC-V software ecosystem organizations to help guide external development.
• Drive the adoption and integration of next-generation server extension cards, involving CXL, RDMA, networking and storage offload, and compute accelerators.
• Help plan, estimate, and drive complex software projects.

Requirements

• Experience defining requirements for x86 or ARM servers for hyperscaler use cases.
• Experience with key server requirements including RAS, telemetry, manageability, and I/O offloading.
• Experience with key application workloads, including distributed databases, AI/ML training/inference, agentic AI, and high-throughput microservices.
• Experience developing low level code in C for multiprocessor, multithreaded operating systems such as the Linux kernel, BSD kernels, or other high level operating systems (HLOS).
• Understanding of computer architecture at the CPU and system levels, VLSI design concepts and how they impact hardware and software architecture.
• Experience writing and reviewing architecture specifications, both for hardware and software.
• Experience with modern desktop and server ecosystems, including PCIe, Device Tree, ACPI, and UEFI.
• Experience with the RISC-V ISA and RISC-V software ecosystem.
• Experience with datacenter Linux distributions such as Debian, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SLES.
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong project leadership skills, including the ability to develop roadmaps, work breakdowns and estimates, and drive projects.

Nice to Have

• Experience working with RTL engineers and with RTL product lifecycles.
• Experience with C++ or Rust.
• Experience working in global teams and cross-cultural communication.

Pay & Benefits

Pay & Benefits: Consistent with SiFive values and applicable law, we provide a market-based pay structure which varies by location. The base pay range is $231,444.00-$282,876.00. In addition to base pay, this role may be eligible for variable/ incentive compensation and/or equity. A comprehensive, competitive benefits package includes healthcare and retirement plans, paid time off, and more!

Additional Information

This position requires a successful background and reference checks and satisfactory proof of your right to work in the United States. As an E-Verify employer, we use this system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires in accordance with federal law. All applicants will be required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, upon hire. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job candidates and will comply with all E-Verify regulations. California residents: please see our job candidate notice for more information on how we handle your personal information and your privacy rights: Privacy Policy Document.