Occupation

Hardware Architect

Hardware Architects design the fundamental structure and capabilities of computer chips, processors, and memory systems, defining how data flows through and is processed by silicon. The work involves detailed technical decisions about CPU/GPU pipelines, cache hierarchies, power efficiency, and system performance using specialized modeling and simulation tools, often balancing competing demands like speed, power consumption, and manufacturing cost. The role suits engineers with deep expertise in computer architecture, semiconductor design, and performance optimization who can work across hardware and software teams and drive complex technical decisions from concept through to shipping silicon.

Duties & responsibilities

Design CPU and processor architectures including pipelines, cache hierarchies, and instruction sets
Optimize trade-offs between performance, power consumption, and silicon area across processor designs
Model and simulate chip designs to evaluate performance, power, and functionality before manufacturing
Develop semiconductor specifications and system requirements into implementable silicon designs
Collaborate across firmware, software, and hardware teams to align architecture with product needs
Define memory subsystems, cache coherency, and data flow paths through processor cores
Evaluate and incorporate new microarchitecture techniques for AI, high-performance, and low-power computing

What Hardware Architect roles involve, from employers’ own postings.

How much does a Hardware Architect make?

Too few Hardware Architect postings state pay to publish a median yet: 3 of 6 open roles do, and we wait for 25.

Who is hiring for Hardware Architect roles?

6 open Hardware Architect roles from 4 employers.

From employers’ own postings, as of2026-10-28.

Hardware Architect in the job market

Last checked October 28, 2026

Open roles: 6
Employers: 4
Median pay: —
Disclose pay: —

Open Hardware Architect roles (6)

Silicon Architect

Oura

Full-time · San Francisco, CA · $198,050 – $233,000

This role shapes the custom silicon architecture for Oura's next-generation wearable health devices, working across product, firmware, and hardware teams to turn complex health-monitoring requirements into semiconductor specifications. It suits someone with deep semiconductor expertise and 10+ years in SoC or ASIC development for consumer electronics who can navigate technical ambiguity and drive alignment between internal stakeholders and external partners.

Listed on Oura’s careers site · Apply there ↗

AI Hardware Architect

NVIDIA

Full-time · $184,000 – $287,500

NVIDIA is seeking an experienced hardware architect to design and optimize next-generation AI chips and systems, working across GPU/CPU architecture, microarchitecture, and system-level challenges. This role suits engineers with deep chip design expertise who want to shape the infrastructure powering AI applications.

Listed on NVIDIA’s careers site · Apply there ↗

CPU Micro-architect

Samsung Semiconductor

Full-time · $151,000 – $251,800

Samsung seeks a CPU microarchitect to optimize next-generation processors for AI and high-performance computing, working on core pipelines, cache hierarchies, and new ISA features. This role suits experienced engineers with strong fundamentals in computer architecture who enjoy performance modeling and cross-functional collaboration.

Listed on Samsung Semiconductor’s careers site · Apply there ↗

CPU Design Architect / Principal Digital Design Engineer

Baidu

Sunnyvale, CA

This role designs high-performance, power-efficient CPU controllers for cellular modems, requiring deep expertise in CPU architecture and hands-on experience with modern design flows. It suits experienced digital design engineers who can balance performance, power, and area while driving innovation across multinational teams.

Listed on Baidu’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Chip Modeling Architect

NVIDIA

This role involves architecting the next generation of high-performance networking chips for AI and HPC systems, with a focus on building simulation tools to evaluate chip designs. The position suits experienced hardware architects who thrive on cross-functional collaboration and enjoy translating complex system requirements into optimized silicon solutions.

Listed on NVIDIA’s careers site · Apply there ↗

CPU/GPU/Processor Hardware Architect

Baidu

Sunnyvale, CA

This role designs and optimizes CPU and processor architectures for AI hardware, working across microarchitecture, memory systems, and system-level performance. It suits architects with deep expertise in processor design, power optimization, and a track record shipping silicon improvements.

Listed on Baidu’s careers site · Apply there ↗