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Server Architect

Intel

Folsom, CA · HybridJob$221–312K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$221–312K/yr
Location
Folsom, CAHybrid
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

As a Principal Engineer in CPU Architecture, this role drives end-to-end architectural specifications for modular, scalable CPUs and helps shape Intel’s technical direction. The work spans CPU architecture and microarchitecture, performance and power tradeoffs, instruction-set development, and proof-of-concept solutions. The engineer collaborates across architecture, design, verification, and validation teams, influences future technology targets, and mentors technical leaders.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

CPU Architecture DefinitionFeature SpecificationPerformance ModelingPower ModelingBottleneck AnalysisCPU Workload OptimizationInstruction Set Architecture DevelopmentInstruction Set Architecture ImplementationSOC ArchitectureProof-of-Concept DevelopmentArchitectural Design ExecutionTechnical StrategyCross-Functional LeadershipMentoringIndustry Trend AnalysisMarket Alignment

Qualifications

BS+12, MS+8 or PhD+6 YrsPosition of Trust Background Investigation

Benefits

Medical Insurance
401(k) Match
Paid Time Off

Full job description

Job Details:

Job Description:

The Role and Impact

As a Principal Engineer in CPU Architecture, you will be at the forefront of developing and driving the end-to-end architectural specifications for cutting-edge, modular, and scalable CPUs that will power the next generation of computing. This role offers the unique opportunity to influence the technical direction of both Intel and the broader industry, ensuring our leadership in performance, power efficiency, and scalability. Your contributions will directly impact Intel's ability to deliver innovative solutions across diverse market segments, from high-performance computing to ultra-low power products. This is a pivotal position that combines technical strategy, architectural innovation, and leadership to shape the future of Intel CPUs.

Key Responsibilities

  • Drive the development of CPU architecture specifications, including hardware feature requirements and hardware-software interoperability throughout the product lifecycle.

  • Define and evaluate feasibility tradeoffs for performance, power, frequency, area, and features to meet CPU requirements across multiple segments.

  • Conceptualize, invent, and specify architectural and microarchitecture features that deliver optimized CPU requirements for varying use cases.

  • Develop and document new instructions to support emerging use cases, improve existing ones, and extend the instruction set architecture (ISA).

  • Model CPU performance and power, analyze current CPU bottlenecks, and explore novel approaches for future workloads.

  • Provide experimental proof-of-concept solutions to propose design alternatives that meet constraints related to performance, power, area, and timing.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including architects, design, verification, and validation engineers to execute project requirements seamlessly.

  • Deliver new microarchitecture definitions and resolve issues during feature implementation to improve CPU design and overcome challenges.

  • Influence and challenge cross-functional roadmaps while defining technology targets for future CPUs.

  • Mentor and develop technical leaders, foster community growth, and act as a change agent while exemplifying Intel values in every aspect of your work.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, and 12+ years of relevant experience; or Master's degree and 8+ years of relevant experience; or PhD and 6+ years of relevant experience.

  • Proven expertise in CPU architecture definition and feature specification.

  • Advanced knowledge of performance and power modeling, bottleneck analysis, and optimization for CPU workloads.

  • Experience with instruction set architecture (ISA) development and implementation.

  • Experience in SOC architecture

  • Demonstrated success in delivering experimental proof-of-concept solutions and driving end-to-end execution of architectural designs.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Track record of influencing technical strategy and leading cross-functional teams to achieve organizational goals.

  • Experience mentoring and developing technical leaders and fostering innovation within a team or organization.

  • Familiarity with industry trends and the ability to align technical vision with market demands to maintain leadership in CPU performance, power optimization, and scalability.

We invite you to join Intel and play a critical role in shaping the future of technology while growing your career in a collaborative, innovative, and inspiring environment.

Job Type:

Experienced Hire

Shift:

Shift 1 (United States of America)

Primary Location:

US, Oregon, Hillsboro

Additional Locations:

US, Arizona, Phoenix, US, California, Folsom, US, California, Santa Clara, US, Massachusetts, Beaver Brook, US, Texas, Austin

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 (https://intel.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External/page/1025c144664a100150b4b1665c750003) .

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.

How this job compares

Set against the 2,242 open Principal Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 3, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$221–312K/yr
  • California median$175–272K/yr336 salary ranges
  • US median$143–254K/yr1,939 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $266K, is 21% above the California median midpoint ($221K) — in the middle half of Principal Engineer salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 367 open Principal Engineer jobs in California and 2,242 across the US. 12% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 6 years of experience — less than three in four Principal Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 9 years, across 1,842 postings).
Education
990 of the 2,242 open Principal Engineer jobs (44%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 3, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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