Performance and Power (PnP) Modeling Engineer
AheadComputing
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Posted on Mar 10, 2026
Job Description:
We are seeking a skilled and motivated Performance and Power (PnP) Modeling Engineer to lead modeling, analysis, and optimization efforts across the full silicon development lifecycle. This role spans architectural modeling, RTL-level analysis, gate-level estimation, and post-silicon correlation. You will build infrastructure, analyze real workloads, identify inefficiencies, and collaborate across hardware and software teams to deliver high-performance and energy-efficient CPU designs.
Responsibilities
- Define and simulate key CPU workloads (boot, idle, burst, sustained) to identify architectural bottlenecks and drive data-backed design decisions.
- Construct tradeoff models and generate performance vs. power curves to support architectural optimization.
- Implement RTL-level power estimation flows using tools such as PowerPro, Joules, or RTLA.
- Analyze switching activity (VCD/SAIF), identify high-power hotspots, and drive RTL improvements including clock gating and logic isolation.
- Establish and maintain DV test suites and microbenchmarks for PnP scenarios.
- Integrate power/performance tests into DV regression infrastructure to track trends over time.
- Build gate-level power flows and dashboards to track regression trends and physical power characteristics.
- Correlate pre-silicon projections with post-silicon results using on-chip sensors, PMUs, and DVFS sweep data.
- Work cross-functionally with architecture, RTL, physical design, validation, and firmware teams to drive design efficiency.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in CPU-focused performance and/or power modeling.
- Strong understanding of CPU microarchitecture: pipeline, cache, memory systems, control logic, and interconnect paths.
- Experience with power analysis tools and switching activity formats (VCD, SAIF, FSDB).
- Familiarity with RTL design and power estimation workflows.
- Exposure to DV regression infrastructure and simulation pipelines.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience building power-aware microbenchmarks for architectural validation.
- Background in RTL power reduction techniques (clock gating, signal isolation, logic pruning).
- Experience analyzing gate-level power and correlating it with RTL-level projections.
- Familiarity with post-silicon measurement infrastructure and silicon data extraction (PMUs, voltage/current rails, thermal sensors).
- Solid scripting and automation skills (e.g., shell, Python, git-based workflows).