Principal Silicon Systems Architect
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 17, 2026. First seen by Alion on Jul 21, 2026. Microsoft scores B on the Alion truth index.
Are you passionate about building cool devices and technologies? Microsoft Windows & Devices team is on a journey to create new experiences on the Windows platform. A fundamental part of our strategy is having desirable and powerful devices that enable the experiences people want and elicit their excitement. Creating these devices involves a close partnership between hardware and software engineers, designers, silicon partners and PC Manufacturers (OEMs).
We are looking for a Principal Silicon Systems Architect to shape future platforms from workloads and product goals through system architecture, silicon roadmaps, and product execution.
A mix of technical breadth and depth across various technologies will allow you to work cross-functionally with different disciplines (e.g. System Architecture, Software/Firmware, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Electrical, Camera, Display) to develop compelling innovative platforms and products. You will drive requirements and specifications for System on Chips (SoCs) and key strategic technologies that are essential in our products.
Success in this role comes from the ability to collaborate across technical disciplines, including System Architecture, Software and Firmware Engineering, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Electrical Engineering, Camera, and Display technologies, to create innovative platforms and products that deliver meaningful impact. The core responsibility of this role will be to serve as a System Architect providing technical leadership and guidance through all phases of product and silicon development process, with a primary focus on early definition specification and architecture.
At Microsoft, our mission-to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more-guides how we partner with customers to deliver trusted, impactful solutions. With a growth mindset culture, we innovate responsibly and measure success by shared progress-people, teams, and customers. Join us to do meaningful work that changes the world and helps shape what’s next for everyone.
Responsibilities
- Lead silicon roadmap definition and development with our 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
- OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field AND 10+ years technical engineering experience
- OR Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field AND 7+ years technical engineering experience
- OR 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 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.
Silicon Engineering IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $220,800 - $331,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.