Job Description

Principal SoC/SiP Architect (AI-Assisted Design & Architecture Enablement)

About imec Qatar

Imec Qatar is a new regional office where we drive our mission of pioneering innovative semiconductor solutions that lay the foundation for a smarter, greener, and truly AI-driven future. Specializing in advanced design tools for emerging technologies like silicon photonics and 3D integrated circuits, imec Qatar is at the forefront of chip development. And we're driving the future with intelligent solutions to optimize infrastructure, and deep-tech innovations targeting applications for a sustainable society.
This is more than just a new office - it's the start of an exciting journey. With the launch of imec Qatar, you have the unique opportunity to join us from day one and help shape the future of semiconductor innovation in the region. Be part of the team from the very beginning, joining us as Principal SoC/SiP Architect (AI-Assisted Design & Architecture Enablement)

What you will do

Join imec's Research Center in Qatar as Principal SoC/SiP Architect, pioneering the convergence of artificial intelligence and semiconductor design. You will lead the transformation of how RISC-V based System-on-Chip and System-in-Package platforms are conceived, designed, and optimized by developing and deploying AI-assisted methodologies that revolutionize architecture exploration, design space optimization, and system validation.

In this visionary technical leadership role, you'll architect next-generation compute platforms for HPC and Mobile applications while simultaneously building the AI-driven tools, frameworks, and methodologies that enable unprecedented design productivity and innovation. Your work will establish a new paradigm where machine learning accelerates every phase of the SoC/SiP lifecycle—from early architecture exploration through physical implementation and validation.

• AI-Assisted Architecture & Design Innovation
  
  • Pioneer AI-driven methodologies for SoC/SiP architecture design space exploration and optimization
  • Develop machine learning models for:
  • Automated architecture generation and configuration optimization
  • Performance prediction across workloads and design points
  • Power/performance/area (PPA) optimization using reinforcement learning
  • Floorplanning and chiplet placement optimization for SiP designs
  • Workload characterization and hardware-software co-optimization
  • Create surrogate models enabling rapid evaluation of thousands of architecture variants
  • Build AI-assisted frameworks for design validation, verification planning, and bug prediction
• SoC/SiP Architecture Leadership
  
  • Define reference architectures for RISC-V based SoC and SiP platforms targeting HPC and mobile domains
  • Architect complete systems including:
  • Multi-core CPU subsystems with AI-optimized configurations
  • Memory hierarchies optimised through ML-driven exploration
  • NoC designs generated and optimized using graph neural networks
  • Heterogeneous compute platforms (CPU+GPU+accelerators) with AI-assisted integration
• Design Enablement & Methodology Development
  
  • Build comprehensive AI-assisted design enablement infrastructure and toolchains
  • Develop automated flows for RTL generation, synthesis optimization, and timing closure using ML
  • Create intelligent debugging and root cause analysis tools leveraging anomaly detection
  • Establish data pipelines capturing design metrics, simulation results, and performance data
• Technical Leadership & Team Development
  
  • Lead cross-functional initiatives integrating AI/ML researchers, SoC architects, and chip designers
  • Mentor architects and engineers on AI-assisted design methodologies and tools
  • Establish best practices for trustworthy AI in critical design decisions
  • Define metrics and validation frameworks ensuring AI recommendations are reliable and explainable
• Research & Industry Leadership
  
  • Publish groundbreaking research at premier venues (ISSCC, DAC, ICCAD, ISCA, NeurIPS)
  • Present at industry conferences on AI-assisted design methodologies (Hot Chips, Design Automation Conference)
  • Contribute to open-source ML frameworks for hardware design (e.g., CircuitNet, MLPerf)
• Strategic Program Development
  
  • Define roadmap for AI-assisted design capabilities at imec's Research Center in Qatar
  • Identify opportunities where AI can provide 10x improvements in design productivity or quality
  • Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies (foundation models, multi-agent systems, neural synthesis)

You will be part of imec, and that means…

You will join a world-class research center in nanotechnology at our brand-new office in Doha (Qatar). You will build a team that shapes technology that will determine the society of tomorrow. Imec is an inclusive employer with an open, multicultural, and informal working environment. We provide ample room for initiative and professional development.

Who you are

Required skills

• PhD in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 12+ years of experience, or MSc with 15+ years
• Proven track record of successful SoC tape-outs with deep architecture experience
• Strong expertise in both traditional SoC/SiP architecture AND modern AI/ML techniques
• Deep knowledge of RISC-V ISA, SoC architecture fundamentals:
• Multi-core systems, cache coherence, memory hierarchies
• Interconnect fabrics, NoC architectures
• Heterogeneous compute integration
• Advanced packaging and chiplet technologies
• Demonstrated experience applying AI/ML to hardware design problems:
• Architecture design space exploration
• Performance modeling and prediction
• Optimization algorithms (RL, Bayesian optimization, genetic algorithms)
• Graph neural networks for hardware representation
• Surrogate modeling for rapid evaluation
• Strong programming skills in Python and ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX)
• Experience with architecture modeling, simulation, and performance analysis tools
• Excellent leadership and communication skills with ability to bridge hardware and AI communities
• Vision for transforming semiconductor design through AI enablement

IMEC and its affiliates will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. IMEC will consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes submitted by vendors such as search firms, staffing agencies, professional recruiters, fee-based referral services and recruiting agencies (hereafter “Agency”) to have been referred by the Agency free of charge. IMEC will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have a prior written agreement with IMEC, validated by its HR department, in place regarding a specific job opening and allowing to submit resumes.