---
title: 'Director of Buffer & Memory Subsystem Architecture at SK hynix America'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-buffer-memory-subsystem-architecture-sk-hynix-america-san-jose-7shw4sb8t0ht'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-05'
---

# Director of Buffer & Memory Subsystem Architecture at SK hynix America

- **Company:** SK hynix America
- **Location:** San Jose, CA
- **Compensation:** $250k–$300k
- **Posted:** 2026-09-01
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-05
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/skhynixamerica/jobs/5413146008

## Job description

About SK hynix America:

At SK hynix America, we are at the forefront of semiconductor innovation. As a global leader in HBM, DRAM, and NAND flash technologies, we develop the advanced memory solutions powering everything from advanced mobile technology to massive AI data centers. With major investments in the U.S. and a leading position in the global AI revolution, we build the critical infrastructure of the digital landscape and remain committed to sustainable operations. We invite innovative minds to be part of our journey. Here, you will be part of a collaborative team pioneering the next generation of memory technologies, expanding our market footprint, and defining the future of computing.

Work Model: Onsite

Job Title: Director of Buffer & Memory Subsystem Architecture Office Location: San Jose, CA Job Type: Full-Time Work Model: Onsite

Job Summary:

As the founding technical lead, this expert will spearhead the HW/SW co-design of next-generation HBF–xPU systems, translating complex AI workload traces into precise architectural policies for caching, prefetching, and data movement. The role demands deep hands-on expertise in memory controllers and performance modeling to define interface contracts and optimize system-level efficiency across the hardware and software stack.

Responsibilities:

- Serve as the founding technical lead of the HBF R&D team, owning HW/SW architecture decisions and technical alignment with headquarters and external partners.
- Lead HW/SW co-design by defining architecture, functional partitioning, and interface contracts across the HBF hardware and software stack.
- Drive HBF system optimization through memory architecture, performance modeling, and system-level implementation.
- Develop HBF system models and event-/trace-driven simulators for AI memory performance analysis.
- Analyze workload performance and optimize latency, bandwidth, and memory efficiency through architecture modeling.
- Validate architectural assumptions and provide data-driven insights for cross-functional architecture decisions.
- Define HBF Memory Architecture and Policies.

Qualifications:

- 8+ years of experience in Memory Controllers, Cache/Prefetch architectures, SSD/Storage Controllers, Accelerator Memory systems, and DMA/Data Movement architectures, including the development of queueing, scheduling, and buffer management algorithms.
- Strong expertise in system performance analysis, including memory latency, bandwidth, locality, contention, and Workload characterization, with the ability to translate complex workload traces into architectural policies.
- Proven HW/SW co-design experience, including the ability to translate AI workload, compiler, runtime, and inference-engine behavior into memory hierarchy, data-movement, prefetch, scheduling, and programming-model requirements.
- Experience owning system architecture decisions, technical requirements, interface definitions, and performance acceptance criteria across multiple hardware and software components.
- Experience defining functional partitioning and interface contracts across hardware, firmware, drivers, compiler/runtime, and application software.
- Experience developing or extending simulation tools for architectural modeling using Python, C/C++, SystemC, or comparable modeling environments, including event-driven, trace-driven, or queueing-based models.

Benefits:

- Top Tier health insurance at no employee cost
- Paid day offs: Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Parental Leave, Happy Fridays
- 401k Matching
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for Health Care & Dependent Care
- Educational reimbursement up to $10,000 per year
- Donation Matching and volunteering opportunities
- Corporate discount programs
- Free Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner provided to employees

Compensation:

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. Pay within the provided range varies by work location and may also depend on job-related skills and experience. Your Recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process.

Pay Range $250,000—$300,000 USD

Equal Employment Opportunity:

SK hynix America is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender identity, national origin, color, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

In compliance with federal law, SK hynix America also participates in the federal E-Verify program. Upon accepting an offer of employment, all newly hired individuals will be required to complete Form I-9, which includes verifying identity and legal authorization to work in the United States. Please review the official government posters detailing your rights and protections prior to applying:

- https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/EVerifyParticipationPoster.pdf
- https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPoster.pdf
- https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPosterES.pdf

## About SK hynix America

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: SK hynix America is the U.S. subsidiary of SK hynix, the world’s second-largest memory semiconductor manufacturer, focused on developing, marketing, and supporting DRAM, NAND flash, and AI memory solutions.
- **Entity Type**: Private (wholly-owned subsidiary of SK Hynix Inc., which is publicly traded on the Korea Exchange under ticker 000660.KS)
- **Headquarters**: San Jose, California, United States
- **Founded**: 1983 (originally as Hyundai Electronics America, rebranded to SK hynix America in 2012)
- **Founders**: Not publicly available (parent company SK hynix was established by the Hyundai Group)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Semiconductor manufacturing, memory solutions (DRAM, NAND flash, HBM, CMOS image sensors)
- **Target customers**: B2B – data center operators, AI/ML infrastructure providers, cloud service providers, PC and mobile OEMs, enterprise storage vendors
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To become the world’s best semiconductor company by delivering cutting-edge memory products that drive innovation in AI, data centers, and connected devices.

## Products & Services
- **DRAM & HBM (High Bandwidth Memory)**: Core memory products used in servers, AI accelerators, and high-performance computing. SK hynix is a leading supplier of HBM for NVIDIA and other AI chip makers.
- **NAND Flash & Solid State Drives (SSDs)**: NAND flash memory for consumer and enterprise storage; SSDs offered globally, with U.S. R&D focused on high-performance NAND for AI devices.
- **CMOS Image Sensors**: Image sensor solutions for mobile, automotive, and IoT applications (less prominent in U.S. operations).
- **Memory Solutions & Support**: Validation, customer engineering, and sales support for global headquarters’ product portfolio, including customized memory solutions for key U.S. clients.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available for the U.S. subsidiary. Parent company SK Hynix Inc. had a market cap of approximately ₩120 trillion (≈$90 billion USD) as of mid-2025.
- **Key Metric**: Total funding – Not applicable (subsidiary). Annual Revenue – Not publicly disclosed for the U.S. entity. Parent company reported 2024 revenue of ₩66.2 trillion (≈$50 billion USD).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent SK Hynix is a member of SK Group (one of South Korea’s top five conglomerates). Key U.S. partners include NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and major cloud hyperscalers. Acquired Intel’s NAND and SSD business in 2021 (operating as Solidigm).
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 8.3% year-over-year to 245 employees (LinkedIn data, 2025); 33 active job postings with a 153.8% yearly increase in listings; renovated global HQ in San Jose (May 2024) to expand R&D and AI memory collaboration; launched NAND Development America in 2023 to develop high-performance NAND for AI.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Second-largest memory chipmaker worldwide**, with deep R&D investment in HBM and advanced DRAM.
- **Strong ties to the AI ecosystem**: HBM is a critical component for NVIDIA’s GPUs, giving SK hynix a strategic position in the AI infrastructure supply chain.
- **Proximity to Silicon Valley customers** enables rapid customization, validation, and support for leading tech companies.
- **Backing of SK Group** provides financial stability and cross-industry synergies (energy, telecom, finance).

## Strategic Focus
- **AI Memory Leadership**: Accelerating HBM development and production (HBM3E, HBM4) to meet surging AI demand.
- **U.S. R&D Expansion**: Growing the San Jose R&D hub for NAND and DRAM design, pathfinding, and AI memory solutions.
- **Customer-Centric Innovation**: Maintaining close collaboration with U.S. hyperscalers and AI companies through dedicated engineering and sales teams.
- **Workforce Growth**: Increasing hiring in engineering, AI, business development, and facilities to support new initiatives (West Lafayette, IN office also expanding).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Environment**: Modern, renovated HQ in San Jose with open collaboration spaces, natural light, and multi-functional areas designed to support both teamwork and focused work.
- **Remote/Hybrid Policy**: Not explicitly stated, but job postings list specific office locations (San Jose, Austin, Bellevue, Raleigh, Washington DC, West Lafayette) suggesting a hybrid/onsite expectation for most roles.
- **Perks & Benefits** (per BuiltIn and company mentions): Health insurance, generous parental leave, retirement benefits (pension), free snacks, family/childcare benefits. Emphasis on employee well-being and safety.
- **Engineering & Innovation**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI memory technology alongside top semiconductor and AI companies (NVIDIA, TSMC neighbors). Roles span hardware (circuit design, signal integrity, NAND/DRAM engineering) to AI systems and business strategy.
- **Growth Trajectory**: Active hiring (+153% YoY posting growth) and expansion into new domains (AI memory, NAND development, West Lafayette facility) signal strong momentum.

## Sources
1. [LinkedIn – SK hynix America](https://www.linkedin.com/company/skhynix-america-inc)
2. [Greenhouse Careers – SK hynix America](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/skhynixamerica)
3. [Bloomberg – SK Hynix America Inc Profile](https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/0126538D:US)
4. [SK hynix News – Renovated HQ Reopening](https://news.skhynix.com/sk-hynix-america-renovated-hq-reopens-to-advance-ai-memory-leadership/)
5. [Built In – SK hynix America Careers & Perks](https://builtin.com/company/sk-hynix-america)

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