SoC Performance Analysis Engineer

Job Description

Would you like to investigate performance bottlenecks and contribute to the optimization of future Arm-based System-on-Chips?

Are you interested in understanding how CPUs, interconnects, memory systems and I/O components interact in complex pre-silicon environments?

Arm’s Cloud-AI System Performance Analysis team is responsible for analysing and improving the behaviour of future SoC platforms running realistic server, networking and AI workloads. Using simulation and hardware emulation platforms, we perform detailed system-level performance investigations to help drive architectural and RTL improvements across Arm IPs and SoCs.

We work closely with architecture, design and verification teams to understand performance behaviour, identify bottlenecks and contribute to efficient system-level solutions.

Responsibilities

As a System Performance Analysis Engineer, you will join the CT-Solutions Performance Analysis team within Central Technology.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Running performance experiments on pre-silicon SoC platforms using simulation and hardware emulation environments

• Bringing up and debugging complex workloads on future SoCs

• Analysing the performance behaviour of CPUs, interconnects, memory subsystems and I/O components under realistic workloads

• Identifying and root-causing system-level performance bottlenecks

• Developing and executing performance benchmarks, tests and analysis flows

• Investigating performance interactions between multiple IPs and system components

• Collaborating closely with architecture, design and verification teams to debug and improve SoC performance

• Contributing to tooling and automation that improve debug efficiency and performance analysis workflows

• Presenting findings and technical recommendations to engineering teams across the company

This role offers exposure to a wide range of technologies and requires strong curiosity, analytical thinking and collaboration across multiple engineering domains.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience
• Strong understanding of computer architecture and system architecture

• Good understanding of memory systems, cache coherency and interconnect architectures

• Experience in performance analysis, system investigation or low-level debugging

• Familiarity with pre-silicon environments such as simulation and/or hardware emulation

• Experience with scripting or programming languages such as Python, Ruby, C or C++

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Ability to investigate complex system interactions and performance bottlenecks

• Good communication and collaboration skills

• Familiarity with Unix/Linux environments and source control systems (e.g. Git)

Nice To Have Skills and Experience

• Familiarity with Arm architectures

• Familiarity with one or more CPU instruction sets

• Understanding of multiprocessor systems and coherency protocols

• Experience with Verilog/SystemVerilog

• Experience with performance benchmarking and profiling tools

• Experience with low-level software, drivers or firmware

• Experience with hardware emulation platforms

• Familiarity with networking or server workloads

• Strong debugging and root-cause analysis skills

What You Will Learn

• Performance analysis methodologies on large-scale SoCs

• Pre-silicon performance debug techniques

• Interaction between CPUs, memory systems, interconnects and I/O components

• Workload characterization and system-level bottleneck analysis

• Collaboration across architecture, RTL design, verification and software teams

Why Join Us

You will work on future Arm-based systems before silicon availability and contribute directly to improving their performance and efficiency. The role provides broad technical exposure across multiple areas of system architecture and offers the opportunity to grow within a highly collaborative engineering environment.

Our 10x Mindset

At Arm, we believe progress happens when people are empowered to think bigger and push beyond what seems possible. Our 10x mindset is about curiosity, ambition and creating impact that will be used by millions. We learn fast, prioritise collaboration and turn bold ideas into real technology. We look for people who are inspired by this way of working and want to grow in an environment where bold ideas are welcomed. Discover how the 10x mindset shapes life at Arm: https://careers.arm.com/10x-mindset

Use of AI in Your Application

At Arm, we embrace the benefits AI can bring, including in recruitment. You may use AI to support your preparation, such as improving the clarity of written responses, practicing interview questions, or learning more about our industry. However, your application and interview responses must reflect your own thinking, experience, and abilities. We want to understand your authentic perspective, creativity, and approach to problem solving. As such, you may not use AI to complete assigned tasks as part of any assessments. If you plan to use AI-supported or assistive technologies as part of a reasonable adjustment, please contact [email protected] so we can support you.

Recruitment Adjustments and Accommodations

At Arm, we want to build extraordinary teams. If you need an adjustment or an accommodation during the recruitment process, please email [email protected]. To note, by sending us the requested information, you consent to its use by Arm to arrange for appropriate accommodations. All accommodation or adjustment requests will be treated with confidentiality, and information concerning these requests will only be disclosed as necessary to provide the accommodation. Although this is not an exhaustive list, examples of support include breaks between interviews, having documents read aloud, or office accessibility. Please email us about anything we can do to accommodate you during the recruitment process.

Hybrid Working

Arm’s approach to hybrid working is designed to create a working environment that supports both high performance and personal wellbeing. We believe in bringing people together face to face to enable us to work at pace, whilst recognizing the value of flexibility. Within that framework, we empower groups/teams to determine their own hybrid working patterns, depending on the work and the team’s needs. Details of what this means for each role will be shared upon application. In some cases, the flexibility we can offer is limited by local legal, regulatory, tax, or other considerations, and where this is the case, we will collaborate with you to find the best solution. Please talk to us to find out more about what this could look like for you.

Equal Opportunities

Arm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and colleagues. We are a diverse organization of dedicated and innovative individuals, and don’t discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.