AI Hardware System Architect

SambaNova Systems · San Jose, California · $250,000 - $350,000 USD · Posted 2026-08-18

SambaNova is a leader in next-generation AI infrastructure, delivering a full-stack inference platform for customers worldwide. At the core of SambaNova's technology is the RDU (Reconfigurable Dataflow Unit) — a chip built on a dataflow architecture rather than the traditional GPU model. Its decode performance is especially strong for agentic workloads like multi-turn agents, code generation, and long-running applications. RDUs are packaged into SambaRack, rack-scale hardware that lets customers deploy state-of-the-art models with better performance, greater energy efficiency, and faster time to value.

About the team

The System Architecture team owns architecture for RDU-based platforms at the board, rack, and cluster level, covering SambaRack-class server and rack design, the scale-up and scale-out interconnect fabric, power delivery, and air and liquid cooling. We write the specifications ODM/OEM and component partners build to, evaluate their proposals, and make the build, buy, and co-develop calls. We define the bring-up, validation, and qualification plan for each platform, and work with signal and power integrity engineers, SambaFlow, ML performance, and datacenter operations to keep architecture decisions matched to the workloads running on the systems.

About the role

SambaNova's Reconfigurable Dataflow Unit (RDU) powers a full-stack, chip-to-model AI platform used by enterprise and government customers, delivered both on-premises and in the cloud. As a Senior RDU System Architect, you'll be a part of the team that turns silicon into shippable systems — SambaRack-class server and rack designs, the scale-up/scale-out fabric that links RDUs together, and the power and cooling envelope that lets dense AI compute run efficiently in a real data hall. You'll set direction across build, buy, and co-design decisions with our hardware partners, write the specifications those partners build to, and stay engaged from architecture definition through bring-up, qualification, and fleet deployment.

Responsibilities

Platform & Rack Architecture

Being a part of the team defining the architecture of RDU-based server and rack platforms, from board layout and chassis design through full-rack integration, translating product and customer requirements into system specifications that engineering teams and vendors can build to.
Select and validate major system components — RDU sockets, memory modules, power supplies, chassis mechanicals — balancing performance, power envelope, and manufacturability.
Build performance and cost models to compare candidate rack configurations before committing to a design.

Fabric, Power & Thermal

Architect the scale-up and scale-out interconnect fabric that links RDUs into larger training and inference clusters, choosing topology, switch/NIC hardware, and optics to hit bandwidth and latency targets.
Own the power delivery architecture (including high-density/48V-class distribution) and the cooling strategy — air and liquid — needed to keep dense, multi-socket racks within thermal budget.
Work with signal and power integrity engineers to confirm interconnect and power designs hold up once they leave simulation and reach the lab.

Partner & Supply Chain Engineering

Evaluate ODM/OEM and component vendor proposals against SambaNova's system requirements, and decide where to build in-house, buy off the shelf, or co-develop with a partner.
Flag schedule or technical risk in partner designs early, and drive the changes needed to close the gap.
Maintain a working map of the vendor and technology landscape — boards, interconnect, power, cooling — that feeds SambaNova's platform roadmap.

Bring-Up, Qualification & Field Reliability

Define the bring-up, validation, and qualification plan for each new platform, including the reliability (RAS) and telemetry targets it needs to hit once it's running in a customer's data hall.
Lead root-cause investigations when a platform's measured behavior in the lab or field diverges from the architecture's projections.

Cross-Team Technical Leadership

Partner with the SambaFlow software/compiler team, ML performance, and datacenter operations so system architecture choices actually help the workloads running on top of them.
Brief executive leadership on architecture tradeoffs and keep the roadmap aligned to customer and product priorities.
Mentor engineers on system architecture methodology, and help build the review process and spec standards the team uses going forward.

Required Qualifications

B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience
12+ years architecting hardware systems for hyperscale, HPC, or AI/ML infrastructure
Deep, hands-on background in at least one systems domain, such as interconnect, power delivery, thermal/cooling, or mechanical, for large-scale AI accelerator, HPC, or hyperscale systems
Experience owning system architecture at board, rack, or cluster scale, including writing the specs that other engineering teams and vendors build to
A track record of carrying a system through architecture definition, bring-up, and volume production
Direct experience holding external vendors and ODM/OEM partners accountable to a technical specification
Comfortable reasoning across domains that affect each other, for example how an interconnect choice changes the power and thermal budget, which in turn changes the mechanical design
A history of making and owning directional calls, and building alignment across engineering and partner teams to support them
Clear technical writing, specs and reviews other teams will build to and rely on

Preferred Qualifications

Hands-on experience with AI accelerator platforms (RDU, GPU, TPU, or custom ASIC) and the fabrics that scale them up and out
Enough fluency in chip- and package-level design to work as a peer with silicon and packaging architects, even though that is not this role's primary scope
Experience standing up a new engineering function, review process, or design practice from scratch

Base Salary Range:

Base Pay Range

$250,000—$350,000 USD

**Submission Guidelines **Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at SambaNova Systems, you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified.

**EEO Policy **SambaNova Systems is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Benefits Summary for US-Based, Full-Time Employment Positions SambaNova offers a competitive total rewards package, including the base salary, plus equity and benefits. We cover 95% premium coverage for employee medical insurance, and 77% premium coverage for dependents and offer a Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution. We also offer Dental, Vision, Short/Long term Disability, Basic Life, Voluntary Life, and AD&D insurance plans in addition to Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options like Health Care, Limited Purpose, and Dependent Care. Our library of well-being benefits available to you and your dependents includes a full subscription to Headspace, Gympass+ membership with access to physical gyms, One Medical membership, counseling services with an Employee Assistance Program, and much more.

About SambaNova Systems

SambaNova Systems builds AI hardware and integrated systems to run AI applications from the data center to the cloud.