HPC System Architecture

Job Details:

Job Description:

The HPC System Architect is the senior technical lead responsible for defining the next generation of Intel's leading-edge high-performance computing systems. Reporting directly to Nic Dube, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Data Center Systems and Solutions, this position owns forward-looking HPC system architecture from concept through committed definition.

You will work directly with Intel's CPU and GPU teams to architect the systems that follow today's products - shaping silicon requirements, and defining system-level architecture for the large-scale, scale-out clusters that characterize production HPC. The role spans full-system definition: compute node design, memory and I/O balance, scale-out fabric and topology, and the software stack that determines delivered application performance at scale.

You will engage directly with the customers that set the leading edge of HPC - DOE national laboratories and their exascale and post-exascale programs, financial services institutions, oil and gas operators, and major academic and government research computing centers - translating their workload and facility requirements into system architectures Intel can build, and Intel's roadmap into system concepts they can commit to.

Responsibilities

• Own system-level architecture for next-generation HPC clusters: node definition, CPU and GPU configuration, memory bandwidth-to-capacity balance, I/O and parallel storage architecture, and scale-out fabric and topology.
• Define scale-out interconnect architecture - fabric selection, network topology, bisection bandwidth and blocking ratios, collective and communication performance, and resilience at thousands-of-node scale.
• Partner with the CPU and GPU teams to define product requirements for future HPC systems, bringing system-level and workload evidence into silicon definition while requirements remain open.
• Build performance models that project delivered application throughput at scale on unreleased silicon and use them to drive configuration and roadmap decisions.
• Lead architecture co-design and benchmark definition with leadership HPC customers, including acceptance criteria for standard and customer-proprietary application suites.
• Drive HPC requirements into Intel's CPU, GPU, platform, and software roadmaps across DCG and the product and design organizations.
• Evaluate emerging technologies for next-generation HPC systems, including advanced memory, Ultra Ethernet and other scale-out fabric standards, optical interconnect, and heterogeneous accelerator integration.
• Produce reference architectures and system specifications that platform teams, OEM and ODM partners, and system integrators can build to.
• Grow and lead HPC architecture capability within the team, providing technical direction and mentorship to architects and engineers.

Successful Candidate Profile

• Deep expertise in HPC system architecture at cluster scale, spanning CPU and GPU configuration, memory subsystem design, scale-out interconnect, and parallel storage.
• Demonstrated experience defining systems around unreleased silicon and influencing CPU or accelerator requirements from a system and workload perspective.
• Fluency with HPC workload characteristics and performance analysis, including quantitative reasoning about scaling behavior, communication patterns, and bottlenecks at scale.
• Working knowledge of the HPC software stack - MPI, OpenMP, GPU programming models, schedulers, and math and communication libraries.
• Proven credibility with sophisticated technical customers in high-stakes procurement and co-design settings.
• Strong understanding of the competitive HPC landscape, including alternative CPU and accelerator architectures, fabric options, and system vendor positioning.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, effective with both deep technical audiences and executive stakeholders.
• Comfort with high ambiguity and a track record of driving clarity in undefined technical areas.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for customer engagements and technical conferences.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.

10+ years of experience in HPC, data center, or server system architecture, design, or engineering.

5+ years of experience in a customer-facing or externally-facing technical role.

Demonstrated experience defining or deploying large-scale compute clusters.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree or PhD in a relevant technical discipline.

Experience defining next-generation systems in partnership with CPU or GPU product and design teams.

Experience supporting DOE national laboratory or comparable large-scale public-sector HPC procurements.

Domain experience in a definitional HPC vertical: financial services, oil and gas and seismic processing, weather and climate, computational chemistry or biology, or manufacturing and CAE.

Hands-on experience with scale-out fabrics including InfiniBand, Ultra Ethernet, or other high-performance interconnect.

Experience with system-level performance modeling and workload characterization at scale.

Experience with converged HPC and AI system design.

Job Type:

Experienced Hire

Shift:

Shift 1 (United States of America)

Primary Location:

US, California, Santa Clara

Additional Locations:

US, Oregon, Hillsboro

Posting Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.

Position of Trust

This role is a Position of Trust. Should you accept this position, you must consent to and pass an extended Background Investigation, which includes (subject to country law), extended education, SEC sanctions, and additional criminal and civil checks. For internals, this investigation may or may not be completed prior to starting the position. For additional questions, please contact your Recruiter.

Benefits

We offer a total compensation package that ranks among the best in the industry. It consists of competitive pay, stock bonuses, and benefit programs which include health, retirement, and vacation. Find out more about the benefits of working at Intel.

Annual Salary Range for jobs which could be performed in the US: $220,920.00-311,890.00 USD

The range displayed on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target compensation for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific compensation range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Work Model for this Role

This role will be eligible for our hybrid work model which allows employees to split their time between working on-site at their assigned Intel site and off-site. * Job posting details (such as work model, location or time type) are subject to change.

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Intel is committed to Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) compliance and ethical hiring practices. We do not charge any fees during our hiring process. Candidates should never be required to pay recruitment fees, medical examination fees, or any other charges as a condition of employment. If you are asked to pay any fees during our hiring process, please report this immediately to your recruiter.