Pre-Silicon SoC Modeling Engineer, Annapurna Labs Machine Learning Accelerators, AWS
About the role
Build and own models of SoC subsystems — translating architecture specs and RTL behavior into accurate, testable C++ models
Work directly with RTL design and verification teams to validate model behavior against RTL, debug discrepancies, and support pre-silicon verification flows
Develop model-based test infrastructure: regression suites, RTL correlation checks, and coverage-driven testing
Contribute to performance modeling efforts — building cycle-approximate models that help architects evaluate design trade-offs before RTL exists
Improve modeling methodology and infrastructure: how models are structured, integrated, tested, and released to DV and architecture teams
Collaborate with chip architects to understand upcoming designs and plan modeling work ahead of RTL availability
Responsibilities
- Build and own models of SoC subsystems — translating architecture specs and RTL behavior into accurate, testable C++ models
- Work directly with RTL design and verification teams to validate model behavior against RTL, debug discrepancies, and support pre-silicon verification flows
- Develop model-based test infrastructure: regression suites, RTL correlation checks, and coverage-driven testing
- Contribute to performance modeling efforts — building cycle-approximate models that help architects evaluate design trade-offs before RTL exists
- Improve modeling methodology and infrastructure: how models are structured, integrated, tested, and released to DV and architecture teams
- Collaborate with chip architects to understand upcoming designs and plan modeling work ahead of RTL availability
Requirements
Experience programming languages such as C/C++, Python, Java or Perl
2+ years writing functional or performance models of hardware (SoCs, ASICs, GPUs, CPUs, IP blocks)
Familiarity with SoC, CPU, GPU, and/or ASIC architecture and micro-architecture
Qualifications
- 2+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Experience working with DV teams or integrating models into verification flows
- Experience with SystemC or TLM-based modeling
- Experience correlating functional models against RTL simulation or emulation
- Experience developing or calibrating performance models
- Familiarity with Modern C++ (20 and beyond)
- Experience with PyTest, GoogleTest, or similar test frameworks
- Experience with multi-threaded simulation
Skills
No ML background needed. You'll learn the ML accelerator domain on the job.
Benefits
Amazon offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.