Hardware System Architect - Advanced Semiconductor Technology

Job Description

Job Description

Hardware System Architect – Advanced Semiconductor Technology

Location: Palo Alto, California or Albany, New York (On-site)

Industry: Advanced Semiconductors / Hardware Systems Architecture

Company: Confidential, Stealth-Mode Venture

Recruiting Firm: Leadingedge Technology Search

The Opportunity

We are conducting a confidential search for a well-funded, stealth-mode semiconductor technology company backed by top-tier investors.

The company is developing a next-generation semiconductor platform and expanding its hardware engineering organization. We are seeking an experienced Hardware System Architect to lead the architecture, integration, and development of complex semiconductor-based hardware systems.

This is a senior technical leadership opportunity for an accomplished hardware architect with deep expertise in FPGA-based prototyping, custom ASICs, mixed-signal electronics, high-voltage power systems, and advanced semiconductor integration.

The successful candidate will work closely with semiconductor device engineers, IC designers, packaging specialists, and firmware and software teams to define end-to-end hardware architectures and transition advanced technology from initial prototypes to production-ready custom silicon.

This position offers significant technical ownership, the opportunity to influence critical system-level decisions, and meaningful equity in an early-stage technology company.

What You'll Do

• Lead the end-to-end hardware system architecture for advanced semiconductor platforms, integrating custom silicon, programmable logic, and commercially available components.
• Define system-level block diagrams, hardware specifications, interfaces, and technical requirements.
• Develop the technology roadmap from FPGA and COTS-based prototypes to custom ASICs, SoCs, and advanced multi-die architectures.
• Evaluate FPGA versus ASIC versus COTS trade-offs across performance, power, cost, latency, footprint, and development schedules.
• Architect complex power delivery systems, including power sequencing, high-voltage generation, protection, isolation, and low-noise power distribution.
• Define precision mixed-signal signal chains incorporating analog front ends, ADCs, DACs, low-jitter clocking, and high-speed digital interfaces.
• Establish system-level interfaces and communication protocols, including PCIe, CXL, SPI, I2C, AXI, and related technologies.
• Define hardware control, calibration, sequencing, monitoring, and diagnostic architectures.
• Develop system performance models covering latency, bandwidth, power consumption, thermal requirements, and signal-to-noise performance.
• Collaborate with semiconductor IC designers and advanced packaging teams on die-to-die interfaces, chiplet integration, and package-level constraints.
• Define system debug, design-for-test, telemetry, and hardware validation strategies.
• Partner with firmware and software engineers to establish hardware/software interfaces, register maps, initialization sequences, and system control functions.
• Own architecture documentation, including Hardware Architecture Specifications (HAS), Product Requirements Documents (PRDs), and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Lead system integration, laboratory bring-up, troubleshooting, and performance validation.
• Provide technical leadership, mentor engineers, and collaborate with external semiconductor partners and technology suppliers.

Qualifications

Required

• BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience architecting and developing complex semiconductor-based hardware systems.
• Demonstrated ownership of system-level hardware architecture from initial concept through prototype development, integration, and silicon bring-up.
• Strong experience with FPGA-based prototyping, custom ASICs, and hardware system integration.
• Experience architecting systems involving high-density memory arrays, semiconductor devices, advanced sensor systems, or complex mixed-signal electronics.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate FPGA, ASIC, and commercially available component trade-offs.
• Strong understanding of board-level and module-level power architecture, power sequencing, and high-speed digital design.
• Experience with mixed-signal interfaces, signal integrity, power integrity, and hardware simulation methodologies.
• Familiarity with SPICE, IBIS, or comparable electrical simulation tools.
• Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, laboratory testing, debugging, and system validation.
• Strong analytical and experimental problem-solving skills.
• Ability to resolve complex technical challenges in rapidly evolving development environments.
• Excellent communication, cross-functional collaboration, and technical leadership capabilities.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly innovative startup environment.

Preferred Experience

Candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas are particularly encouraged to apply:

• Semiconductor hardware systems architecture
• NAND Flash, DRAM, emerging nonvolatile memory, or memory controller architectures
• High-density semiconductor arrays and addressing architectures
• FPGA-to-ASIC development and system migration
• Mixed-signal ASIC and SoC integration
• Precision analog front ends, ADCs, DACs, and low-noise signal processing
• High-voltage and low-voltage power domain isolation
• Power management ICs, power sequencing, and advanced power delivery
• High-speed interfaces including PCIe, CXL, and advanced serial communication protocols
• Chiplet architectures, multi-chip modules, and advanced 2.5D/3D semiconductor packaging
• Die-to-die interfaces, including UCIe
• System performance modeling using Python, C/C++, SystemC, or MATLAB
• Hardware calibration, sequencing, timing control, and embedded system interfaces
• Hardware safety, electrical isolation, and applicable product safety standards
• Leading multidisciplinary hardware engineering teams
• Experience developing advanced semiconductor products in early-stage or rapidly growing technology companies

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Join a well-funded, stealth-mode semiconductor technology company backed by top-tier investors.
• Help define the hardware architecture of a next-generation semiconductor platform.
• Take ownership of complex hardware systems from initial concept through prototype development and custom silicon integration.
• Work alongside accomplished semiconductor engineers, scientists, and technology innovators.
• Influence fundamental architectural decisions and future product development.
• Play a key technical leadership role in building a world-class engineering organization.
• Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and meaningful early-stage equity.
• Opportunity for significant technical impact and long-term career growth.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive base salary commensurate with experience and seniority, meaningful equity participation, comprehensive health benefits, paid time off, and additional benefits.

Confidential Search: Leadingedge Technology Search is managing this search on behalf of a privately held semiconductor technology company. Additional company information will be shared with qualified candidates during the interview process.

\nCompany Description

Stealth-Mode Start-Up backed by Tier 1 investors

Company Description

Stealth-Mode Start-Up backed by Tier 1 investors