Datacenter System Software Architect

As the pioneers who introduced RISC-V to the world, SiFive is transforming the future of compute by bringing the limitless potential of RISC-V to the highest performance and most data-intensive applications in the world. SiFive’s unrivaled compute platforms are continuing to enable leading technology companies around the world to innovate, optimize and deliver the most advanced solutions of tomorrow across every market segment of chip design, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, automotive, data center, mobile, and consumer. With SiFive, the future of RISC-V has no limits.

At SiFive, we are always excited to connect with talented individuals, who are just as passionate about driving innovation and changing the world as we are.  

Our constant innovation and ongoing success is down to our amazing teams of incredibly talented people, who collaborate and support each other to come up with truly groundbreaking ideas and solutions.  Solutions that will have a huge impact on people's lives; making the world a better place, one processor at a time. 

Are you ready?  

To learn more about SiFive’s phenomenal success and to see why we have won the GSA’s prestigious Most Respected Private Company Award (for the fourth time!), check out our website and Glassdoor pages.

Job Description:

The Role:

Do you want to be part of the RISC-V revolution? RISC-V and SiFive are redefining computing platforms for the 21st century. As a datacenter system software architect, you’ll play a leading role in designing and implementing high-performance RISC-V Linux systems for datacenters, spanning software and hardware architecture and engineering.  Unlike in many larger companies, SiFive engineers work cross-functionally, with full access to our software and hardware codebases.

The home for this role is in SiFive’s Software Architecture group.  You’ll architect and write software that takes advantage of SiFive and RISC-V hardware features and integrates cleanly with existing operating systems, primarily Linux. You’ll help author and review architecture specifications for new hardware and software features, and will help plan and execute the work involved in implementation. You’ll be a part of creating something big - all based around the RISC-V instruction set architecture. 

Responsibilities:

• Architect systems and system software for hyperscaler deployments based on RISC-V.  This work primarily focuses on software and system architecture, and involves close collaboration with hardware architects. 

• Engage with key customers and partners to integrate their functional and performance requirements, understand key workloads, and ensure that SiFive systems are well-supported in the associated software ecosystems.

• Help guide the development of RISC-V software and firmware stacks for servers, including platform controller firmware, platform firmware, hypervisors, Linux, and application stacks.

• Participate in the development of RISC-V standards pertaining to servers.

• Engage with RISC-V software ecosystem organizations to help guide external development.

• Work with SiFive performance benchmarking and software optimization teams to help identify and resolve bottlenecks limiting the performance of the design.

• Help port and optimize modern hypervisors and virtualization stacks to run on RISC-V.

• Drive the adoption and integration of next-generation server extension cards, involving CXL, RDMA, networking and storage offload, and compute accelerators.

• Help plan, estimate, and drive complex software projects.

Requirements:

• Experience defining requirements for x86 or ARM servers for hyperscaler use cases.

• Experience with key server requirements including RAS, telemetry, manageability, and I/O offloading.

• Experience with key application workloads, including distributed databases, AI/ML training/inference, agentic AI, and high-throughput microservices.

• Experience developing low level code in C for multiprocessor, multithreaded operating systems such as the Linux kernel, BSD kernels, or other high level operating systems (HLOS)

• Understanding of computer architecture at the CPU and system levels, VLSI design concepts and how they impact hardware and software architecture

• Experience writing and reviewing architecture specifications, both for hardware and software

• Experience with modern desktop and server ecosystems, including PCIe, Device Tree, ACPI, and UEFI.

• Experience with the RISC-V ISA and RISC-V software ecosystem.

• Experience with datacenter Linux distributions such as Debian, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SLES.

• Strong communication skills.

• Strong project leadership skills, including the ability to develop roadmaps, work breakdowns and estimates, and drive projects.

Nice to have:

• Experience working with RTL engineers and with RTL product lifecycles.

• Experience with C++ or Rust.

• Experience working in global teams and cross-cultural communication.

Pay & Benefits

Consistent with SiFive values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. We have a market-based pay structure which varies by location.  Please note that the base pay range is a guideline, and our compensation range reflects the cost of labor in the U.S. geographic market based on the location of the role. Pay within these ranges varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and relevant work experience. 

For candidates who receive and offer, the starting salary will vary based on various factors including, but not limited to, such qualifications as, skill level, competencies, and work location.  The range provided may represent a candidate range and may not reflect the full range for an individual tenured employee.

Base Pay Range

In addition to base pay, this role may be eligible for variable/ incentive compensation and/ or equity.  In addition, this role is eligible for a comprehensive, competitive benefits package which may include healthcare and retirement plans, paid time off, and more! 

Additional Information:

This position requires a successful background and reference checks and satisfactory proof of your right to work in

Any offer of employment for this position is also contingent on the Company verifying that you are a authorized for access to export-controlled technology under applicable export control laws or, if you are not already authorized, our ability to successfully obtain any necessary export license(s) or other approvals.

SiFive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

As an E-Verify employer, we use this system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires in accordance with federal law. All applicants will be required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, upon hire. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job candidates and will comply with all E-Verify regulations.

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