← All roles

CPU Processor Performance Verification Engineer

Apple· Hardware
Apply on company site
Santa Clara, CA$184.7k - $324.8kFull-timePosted 6mo ago

About the role

In this highly visible role at Apple, you will be at the center of a chip design effort, responsible for silicon performance verification, correlation, characterization, and tuning for CPUs. The role includes pre-silicon verification, developing tests to characterize CPU performance, analyzing software, correlating performance across silicon and software versions, and collaborating with OS and compiler teams on performance debugging and tuning.

Responsibilities

  • Work closely with architects and RTL designers on verifying the performance features of the design and correlating with performance models (both pre-silicon and post-silicon)
  • Work closely with software and application developers on identifying performance bottlenecks and tuning the software
  • Develop test plans and test infrastructure/tools for performance tuning, correlation, and verification
  • Improve and maintain the architectural performance models
  • Develop tests in assembly, C/C++, or vectors to debug and correlate the RTL and performance model
  • Develop C or Verilog-based checkers for verifying the performance features
  • Develop coverage monitors and analyze coverage to ensure all performance features are covered
  • Debug performance issues and conduct performance tuning on silicon
  • Benchmark, correlate and compare CPU performance across silicon/OS/compiler versions
  • Present CPU performance results to multi-functional teams
  • Work closely with OS and compiler teams on system and application performance tuning

Qualifications

  • Minimum BS and 10+ years of relevant industry experience
  • Performance modeling, processor verification, or RTL design experience
  • Experience in digital logic design, CPU architecture, and microarchitecture
  • Experience in developing performance test plans and writing/debugging assembly tests for performance correlation and verification
  • Programming skills in assembly, C/C++, Verilog, System Verilog, or scripting
  • Experience in benchmark and workload analysis and CPU performance profiling
  • Knowledge of compiler techniques and OS for performance optimization
  • Knowledge in developing instruction profiling tools on silicon
  • Experience in performance modeling for advanced CPU designs
  • Experience in silicon validation
  • Ability to work across teams to optimize silicon performance
  • Should be a great teammate with excellent communication and presentation skills and able to work independently on the owned unit

Skills

Required:Performance modelingCPU architecture and microarchitectureRTL designassembly, C/C++, Verilog, SystemVerilog

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical and dental coverage
  • Retirement benefits
  • Discounted products and free services
  • Reimbursement for certain educational expenses (tuition)
  • Discretionary bonuses or commission payments and relocation eligibility
  • Apple Employee Stock Purchase Plan and discretionary RSU awards
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Apple

Discover the innovative world of Apple and shop everything iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, plus explore accessories, entertainment, and expert device support.

Discover the innovative world of Apple and shop everything iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, plus explore accessories, entertainment, and expert device support.

AirPods Max 2Apple ArcadeApple CardApple Fitness+Apple MusicApple TVApple TV+Apple Watch Series 11
Company profileWebsite

More open roles at Apple