MCU Architect, Custom Silicon
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About this role
MCU Architect, Custom Silicon
About GlobalFoundries
GlobalFoundries is a leading full-service semiconductor foundry providing a unique combination of design, development, and fabrication services to some of the world’s most inspired technology companies. With a global manufacturing footprint spanning three continents, GlobalFoundries makes possible the technologies and systems that transform industries and give customers the power to shape their markets. For more information, visit www.gf.com.
Introduction:
The Custom Silicon MCU Architect is responsible for defining and driving the architecture of next-generation microcontroller-based silicon solutions, including real-time embedded SoCs and application-specific MCU platforms. This role requires close collaboration with design, verification, firmware, software, safety, security, and system teams to deliver scalable, power-efficient, and reliable MCU products for industrial, automotive, and infrastructure applications.
Your Job:
Define and own the architecture and technical specifications for MCU-based custom silicon products from concept through tape-out.
Lead architecture trade-off analysis across real-time performance, power, area, cost, safety, security, and scalability.
Drive the definition of compute subsystems, memory hierarchy, DMA architecture, interrupt architecture, debug infrastructure, and peripheral integration.
Define clock, reset, and power architecture, including low-power modes, retention strategies, wake-up behavior, and power domain partitioning.
Collaborate with firmware and software teams on hardware-software partitioning, boot flows, memory maps, register maps, and bring-up strategy.
Guide integration of CPU cores, on-chip memories, interconnects, security IP, analog/mixed-signal peripherals, and system interfaces.
Support architecture validation, emulation, silicon bring-up, post-silicon debug, and derivative product planning.
Present technical concepts, architecture decisions, and risk assessments to internal teams, management, and external partners.
Other Responsibilities:
Ensure architecture compliance with functional safety and security requirements, including standards such as ISO 26262, IEC 61508, secure boot, root-of-trust, and lifecycle management.
Required Qualifications:
Deep experience in MCU, embedded SoC, or custom silicon architecture, including real-time and low-power design considerations.
Strong expertise in processor subsystems, memory architecture, AMBA-style interconnects, DMA, interrupts, peripheral integration, and debug architecture.
Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related field.
Strong knowledge of clock/reset/power architecture, low-power design techniques, performance modeling, and architecture validation strategies.
Experience working across hardware, firmware, verification, and software teams to define hardware-software interfaces and system behavior.
Thorough understanding of modern embedded interfaces and protocols such as AXI/AHB/APB, SPI, I2C, UART, USB, Ethernet, CAN, and memory interfaces.
Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and system-level thinking skills.
Strong communication, technical writing, and project leadership skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
15+ years of experience in MCU, embedded SoC, or custom silicon development with a track record of leading architecture definition.
Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related field.
Experience with ARM Cortex-M, RISC-V, or equivalent embedded processor architectures.
Demonstrated expertise in functional safety, security architecture, and real-time embedded system design.
Experience with analog and mixed-signal peripheral integration such as ADCs, DACs, PLLs, timers, and sensor interfaces.
Involvement in platform strategy, derivative product planning, third-party IP evaluation, and cross-functional technical reviews.
GlobalFoundries is an equal opportunity employer, cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe having a multicultural workplace enhances productivity, efficiency and innovation whilst our employees feel truly respected, valued and heard.
As an affirmative employer, all qualified applicants are considered for employment regardless of age, ethnicity, marital status, citizenship, race, religion, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation and medical and/or physical abilities.
All offers of employment with GlobalFoundries are conditioned upon the successful completion of background checks, medical screenings as applicable and subject to the respective local laws and regulations.
Information about our benefits you can find here: https://gf.com/about-us/careers/opportunities-asia
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