Advanced Micro Devices, Inc

Principal Linux Systems Architect

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc$150K — $180K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in x86 computing architecture and Linux systems software
  • Demonstrated record in influencing industry standards and open-source contributions
  • Strong skills in technical leadership and architectural judgment
  • Experience with cross-functional team collaboration across hardware and software
  • Advanced C programming abilities, particularly for kernel and system software

Responsibilities

  • Define and oversee system software and platform architecture for Linux and virtualization
  • Drive long-term architectural roadmaps for x86-based platforms
  • Lead design reviews across various systems layers
  • Architect and prototype Linux kernel and device drivers
  • Provide leadership for system performance and reliability
  • Conduct root-cause analysis across application and hardware layers
  • Engage with open-source communities and external software partners

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance plans
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match
  • Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
  • Flexible work options positioned for work-life balance
  • Employee resource groups focused on various interests and backgrounds
Full Job Description
The Role

We are seeking a Principal Architect with deep expertise in x86 computing architecture and Linux system software to drive end-to-end platform and software architecture across complex, high-performance systems. This role is responsible for setting technical direction, defining long-term architectural strategy, and solving the most complex system-level challenges spanning hardware, firmware, OS, virtualization, and application layers.

As a senior technical leader, you will operate with significant autonomy and organizational influence, partnering with silicon, firmware, platform hardware, software, and ecosystem teams while engaging directly with open-source communities and industry partners to shape the future of Linux-based computing platforms.

The Person

The ideal candidate is a recognized industry expert and systems thinker with a proven record of driving architecture for complex computing platforms. You possess a unique combination of deep technical expertise, strategic vision, and the ability to influence technical direction across large organizations.

You thrive in environments where hardware and software intersect, enjoy solving difficult system-level problems, and have demonstrated success delivering architectural innovations that scale across products, customers, and ecosystems.

You bring:
  • Exceptional expertise in Linux systems and x86 platform architecture
  • Strong architectural judgment and the ability to balance long-term strategy with execution
  • Experience driving cross-functional alignment among hardware, firmware, kernel, and software teams
  • A history of influencing industry standards, open-source projects, or platform ecosystems
  • Outstanding communication and technical leadership skills

Key Responsibilities
  • Define and own system software and platform architecture across Linux, kernel, drivers, virtualization, and security domains
  • Drive technical strategy and long-term architectural roadmaps for complex x86-based platforms
  • Lead architecture and design reviews across OS, firmware, hardware, and application interfaces
  • Architect, prototype, and review Linux kernel, device drivers, and low-level system software
  • Provide technical leadership for system bring-up, performance optimization, scalability, and reliability
  • Lead complex root-cause analysis across application, kernel, firmware, and hardware layers
  • Act as a senior technical interface to open-source communities, including upstream Linux development
  • Collaborate with external software partners and ecosystem stakeholders
  • Mentor senior engineers and influence technical standards and best practices across teams


Preferred Experience
  • Deep expertise in x86-64 architecture, operating systems, and system-level design
  • Extensive experience with Linux kernel internals, including core kernel, IO subsystems, and drivers
  • Advanced C programming for kernel and system software
  • Strong background in virtualization technologies, including KVM/QEMU and x86-64 virtualization extensions
  • In-depth knowledge of ACPI, PCIe, and platform interfaces
  • Proven experience with low-level debug tools, emulators, and simulators
  • Significant contributions to open-source software, including upstream patch submission and review
  • Demonstrated success in performance optimization, scalability, and system reliability

To Stand Out From the Crowd
  • Expertise in Linux memory management, including HMM
  • Hands-on experience with GPU/DRM drivers and heterogeneous compute platforms
  • Knowledge of cache coherence and memory consistency protocols
  • Experience with high-performance networking, including RDMA, peer-direct, scale-up/scale-out networking, and communication collectives
  • Proficiency with machine learning and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch and TensorFlow
  • Experience with GPU compute technologies, including OpenCL and Vulkan


ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:
  • Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineer, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field


This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

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About Advanced Micro Devices, Inc

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Learn more about Advanced Micro Devices, Inc
Size
15,500 employees
Market Cap
$100.9 billion
Industry
Net Income
$2.4 billion
Founded
1969
5 Year Trend
+30.9%
Revenue
$9.7 billion
NASDAQ

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