Principal Silicon Systems Architect
About the role
Microsoft’s Windows & Devices team is on a journey to create new experiences on the Windows platform. A fundamental part of this strategy is developing desirable and powerful devices that enable compelling user experiences. This role involves close partnership between hardware and software engineers, designers, silicon partners, and PC manufacturers (OEMs) to shape future platforms—from workloads and product goals through system architecture, silicon roadmaps, and product execution.
As a Principal Silicon Systems Architect, you will drive requirements and specifications for System on Chips (SoCs) and key strategic technologies, collaborating across disciplines such as System Architecture, Software/Firmware, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Electrical Engineering, Camera, and Display to create innovative platforms and products.
Responsibilities
- Lead silicon roadmap definition and development with silicon partners, or lead system architecture for a key compute pillar such as AI or system memory.
- Translate workloads, target experiences, and product goals into system and silicon requirements.
- Define architecture, capabilities, KPIs, and tradeoffs across compute, memory, power, performance, cost, thermal, security, and software.
- Drive co-design across Windows, AI, device, platform, and silicon teams.
- Shape partner roadmaps by identifying capability gaps and defining Microsoft’s strategic requirements.
- Build workload and system models to guide architecture and product decisions.
- Drive technical alignment from early definition through silicon and product execution.
- Communicate complex technical tradeoffs to drive decisions across engineering teams, executives, and partners.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience
- Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field AND 10+ years technical engineering experience
- Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field AND 7+ years technical engineering experience
- Equivalent experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, with 10+ years of experience in silicon, system, or product development.
- Track record of defining and delivering complex SoCs or systems from architecture through product launch.
- Experience shaping silicon roadmaps and driving architecture decisions with silicon partners.
- Proven experience in driving complex product and system feature decisions across a wide range of stakeholders.
- Experience with workload characterization, performance analysis, and system modeling.
- Deep expertise in SoC architecture or a key system domain such as AI, compute, memory, power, or performance.
- Understanding of heterogeneous compute across CPU, GPU, NPU, media, memory, interconnects, and power management.
- Ability to establish direction and drive decisions with incomplete information.
Pay
The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 per year. A different range applies to specific work locations, including the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, where the base pay range is USD $220,800 - $331,200 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.