Senior Compute Architect

About Fractile

Fractile is pioneering silicon, systems, and software innovation aimed at transforming AI by enabling faster and more cost-effective execution of advanced models. With a talented hardware and software team, it is scaling rapidly to deliver impactful products.

Role Overview

As a Processor Architect, you will lead the design and architecture of core compute engines, defining ISA, programming models, memory hierarchies, and interconnects. Your role includes working hands-on with performance modeling, specification documentation, bottleneck analysis, and silicon validation, bridging design intent to functioning high-performance hardware.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own architectural specifications of compute engines balancing performance, energy, flexibility, and design complexity.
• Guide architectural exploration from conception through to detailed specifications working closely with modeling, implementation, verification, and physical design teams.
• Define execution units, instruction sets, memory systems, making strategic trade-offs at all levels.
• Create and maintain performance models and simulators to inform architectural decisions with empirical data.
• Collaborate with system architecture and software teams to ensure processors deliver real-world application performance beyond benchmarks.
• Assess emerging technologies including compact numeric formats, novel computation paradigms, and advanced packaging to influence architectural planning.
• Serve as a technical mentor promoting rigor in performance analysis and architectural documentation within the team.
• Represent compute architecture in technical reviews, partner meetings, and client engagements.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Established experience as a Processor Architect or similar in semiconductor or high-performance computing sectors.
• Strong expertise in processor architecture including matrix/vector floating-point arithmetic and memory hierarchy design.
• Familiarity with RTL design flows and physical layout considerations influencing architecture.
• Experience delivering processor designs from early concept through tapeout and post-silicon evaluation.
• Proven capability to define and manage performance and power budgets while navigating complex design trade-offs.
• Comfortable interfacing across architecture, modeling, implementation, verification, and software domains.
• Excellent communicator able to bridge deep architectural knowledge with system-level and product context.

Preferred Skills

• Background in AI acceleration, vector or matrix compute, or domain-specific processor architectures.
• Hands-on experience with performance modeling tools like gem5, SystemC, or custom cycle-accurate simulators.
• Understanding of compiler and toolchain interactions with hardware architectures.
• Prior experience in startup or fast scaling environments characterized by ambiguity and rapid iteration.

Working Environment & Culture

• Full ownership and autonomy over your work.
• Fast-paced, collaborative problem-solving with direct leadership interaction from idea to hardware delivery.
• Cross-functional teamwork between hardware, software, silicon, and modeling groups driving generationally impactful products.
• A culture valuing optimism, pragmatism, and determination to succeed together.
• A team-oriented mindset focused on shipping the best ideas irrespective of origin.

Company Overview

• Founded in 2022, rapidly growing team of 80+ employees.
• Modern, open office spaces in London and Bristol.
• Cultural emphasis on curiosity, entrepreneurial initiative, and strong technical skills.

Additional Information

Certain positions may involve technologies with export controls, requiring eligibility verification and possibly security clearances in compliance with legal regulations.