Responsibilities Define end-to-end architecture for NOC and DDR memory controller subsystems in advanced SoCs Drive architectural tradeoffs across bandwidth, latency, QoS, coherency, buffering, arbitration, congestion management, power, area, and reliability Own memory subsystem strategy, including DDR controller architecture, scheduling policy, traffic shaping, address mapping, refresh impact, and system performance optimization Define scalable NOC topology, routing, flow control, bandwidth allocation, and traffic isolation mechanisms for multi-client SoCs Develop architecture specifications for interconnect and memory subsystems, including interfaces, performance targets, use models, and corner-case behavior Lead performance modeling and analysis to evaluate workload behavior, bottlenecks, utilization, and worst-case traffic scenarios Partner with system architects and domain leads to align subsystem architecture with product requirements and software use cases Work with RTL, verification, and firmware teams to ensure clean architectural intent, measurable requirements, and efficient implementation Review microarchitecture proposals and implementation choices to ensure consistency with system goals Drive debug and root-cause analysis for architecture-related issues during pre-silicon and post-silicon phases Mentor senior engineers and architects and raise the overall quality of architecture thinking across the organization Qualifications Required BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field 12+ years of experience in SoC or ASIC architecture with significant ownership of interconnect and memory subsystem design Deep expertise in NOC architecture, including topology selection, arbitration, QoS, congestion handling, flow control, and performance optimization Deep expertise in DDR memory controller architecture and system behavior under real workload conditions Strong understanding of high-performance SoC design tradeoffs across performance, power, area, and scalability Experience building architecture models and using data to drive technical decisions Strong knowledge of traffic patterns from CPUs, GPUs, AI/ML accelerators, DMA engines, multimedia blocks, and other high-bandwidth clients Proven track record of leading cross-functional technical efforts from concept through silicon Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence across architecture, design, and product teams Preferred qualifications Experience with LPDDR and/or DDR architectures used in high-performance and power-constrained systems Experience with coherent and non-coherent interconnect fabrics Familiarity with cache/memory hierarchy design and system-level performance tuning Experience with safety, reliability, ECC, RAS, and functional robustness requirements Experience in automotive, AI, edge compute, or other high-compute embedded platforms Experience supporting post-silicon tuning and performance characterization What success looks like A clear and scalable NOC and DDR architecture that meets product performance goals without unnecessary implementation risk Well-defined architectural specifications that enable efficient execution across design and verification teams Early identification of bottlenecks and high-leverage optimizations through modeling and analysis Strong alignment across system, hardware, and software stakeholders A technically strong team operating with high architectural rigor and clear design intent Leadership expectations Set the technical direction for interconnect and memory subsystem architecture across multiple programs Make principled tradeoff decisions grounded in workload behavior and product needs Build alignment across diverse engineering teams while maintaining a high bar for technical quality Coach and develop senior engineers through reviews, mentoring, and architectural guidance Raise organizational capability in performance-driven SoC architecture Pay Disclosure The salary range for this role is $218,000 - $312,000 for Palo Alto, CA based applicants. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.