---
title: 'Principal RTL Design Engineer, IO & Memory Systems at SambaNova Systems'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-rtl-design-engineer-io-memory-systems-sambanova-systems-austin-texas-webp5gp184n5'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-15'
---

# Principal RTL Design Engineer, IO & Memory Systems at SambaNova Systems

- **Company:** SambaNova Systems
- **Location:** Austin Texas, United States / San Jose California, United States
- **Compensation:** $180k–$255k
- **Posted:** 2026-09-14
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-15
- **Apply:** https://sambanova.ai/sambanova-available-positions/?gh_jid=6173852004

## Job description

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 role

SambaNova is seeking a Principal Engineer to own the design, integration, and implementation of high-speed IO and memory subsystems within the DataScale® platform. This role is central to delivering reliable, high-performance AI systems at scale.

You will drive these subsystems across the full product lifecycle, from architecture exploration and microarchitecture definition through RTL and integration of internal and third-party IP (PCIe, Ethernet , CXL, HBM, die-to-die). This is a hands-on role for an engineer with deep protocol and RTL expertise, who can operate in ambiguity and execute with high ownership.

## Responsibilities

- Engage in architecture exploration with system and chip architects to define IO and memory subsystem direction
- Drive feasibility studies and design trade-off analysis to meet PPA constraints
- Own microarchitecture definition and specification for IO and memory subsystems
- Deliver synthesizable, high-quality SystemVerilog RTL for assigned blocks against functionality, performance, and power targets
- Run the front-end design flow end to end, covering lint, CDC/RDC, synthesis, timing constraint development, and design-for-test readiness
- Partner with STA and physical design teams on timing closure, floorplanning, congestion analysis, and optimization at advanced process nodes
- Work closely with verification and emulation teams to ensure design validation coverage and quality
- Collaborate with software and firmware teams to ensure optimal end-to-end solutions
- Drive cross-functional triage of complex functional and performance issues to root cause and closure
- Apply engineering best practices including code review, testing, and refactoring
- Improve design and integration methodology, reuse, and flow scalability

Required Qualifications

- MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
- 7+ years of experience in ASIC design
- Experience in logic design, microarchitecture, specification, SystemVerilog RTL design, and functional verification
- Experience with power, performance, or area optimization
- Experience with two or more on-chip or chip-to-chip protocols and interfaces such as AXI, APB, PCIe, Ethernet, or UCIe
- Experience with memory subsystems such as HBM and CXL
- Ability to evaluate and select vendor IP, and to read and distill complex IP and protocol specifications into actionable design requirements
- Clear and effective communicator with a proactive, collaborative approach to problem-solving

## Preferred Qualifications

- Experience taking one or more ASIC products from concept to silicon
- Familiarity with emerging scale-up protocols (ESUN, SUE, UAL) and scale-out protocols such as Ultra Ethernet
- Experience designing on-chip interconnect and traffic-management logic, including NoC fabrics, switches, arbiters, and quality-of-service or congestion control mechanisms
- Knowledge of machine learning and hardware accelerator architectures

Base Salary Range:

Base Pay Range $180,000—$255,000 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

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: SambaNova Systems provides a full-stack AI platform, from specialized Reconfigurable Dataflow Unit (RDU) chips to an agentic AI inference platform, designed for enterprises and governments.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series E)
- **Headquarters**: San Jose, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2017
- **Founders**: Rodrigo Liang (Co-founder & CEO), Kunle Olukotun (Co-founder & Chief Technologist)

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Artificial Intelligence / Enterprise AI Infrastructure
- **Target Customers**: Developers, large enterprises, government agencies, and data centers (B2B)
- **Mission Statement**: To be the most efficient and adaptable AI platform on the planet, empowering enterprises to control the trajectory of their data and AI future.

## Products & Services
- **SambaNova Suite**: The company's core product, a fully integrated AI platform that includes hardware, software, and models. It provides OpenAI-compatible APIs for inference.
- **SambaRack (SN40 & SN50)**: A state-of-the-art, rack-scale system optimized for AI inference. The SN50 is the fifth-generation system designed for fast agentic inference with high energy efficiency (average of 10 kWh for SN40).
- **Reconfigurable Dataflow Unit (RDU)**: A custom-designed AI chip (SN40L, SN50) with a unique three-tier memory architecture that delivers high speed and throughput for large models while using less power than traditional GPUs.
- **SambaOrchestrator**: A management tool for deploying, monitoring, and auto-scaling AI models across data centers.
- **Sovereign AI Platform**: An offering for governments and enterprises to keep data secure and governed while enabling business teams to use AI.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (Private company).
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of **$1.484B** (raised over multiple rounds, including a $350M Series E in early 2026).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Intel, GV (Google Ventures), BlackRock, Redline Capital Management, Atlantic Bridge Capital.
- **Growth Signals**: 
    - Raised a $350M Series E in early 2026.
    - A launch partner for Meta's Llama 4 series.
    - First platform to support all three variants of Llama 3.1 (8B, 70B, and 405B).
    - Has filed 313 patents related to parallel computing, computer memory, and instruction processing.
    - Customers include Blackbox and Texas Advanced Computing Center.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Full-Stack Integration**: Unlike many competitors, SambaNova controls the entire AI stack from the chip (RDU) to the software and models, allowing for deep optimization.
- **Efficiency**: The RDU's dataflow architecture is designed for high performance with significantly lower power consumption (best tokens per watt), a key differentiator for scaling AI.
- **Open-Source Focus**: The company is a strong supporter of open-source AI models, being a launch partner for major releases like Meta's Llama 4.

## Strategic Focus
- **Agentic AI**: The company is heavily focused on enabling complex, multi-step agentic AI workflows, with the SN50 chip and SambaOrchestrator built for this purpose.
- **Sovereign AI**: Targeting government and enterprise clients who need secure, on-premises or private cloud AI solutions.
- **Scaling Inference**: Prioritizing high-speed, low-latency inference for the largest open-source models (e.g., DeepSeek, Llama) at scale.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as a "smart and motivated team" that values "talent first," "innovation that impacts," and "trust and integrity." The company emphasizes collaboration across departments and access to founders.
- **Work Environment**: Offers flexible working hours and a hybrid/remote-friendly policy (Flexible PTO in the U.S.).
- **Notable Perks**: 
    - Flexible PTO
    - Parental Leave
    - Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits
    - 401k/Pensions
    - Gym Access
    - Mentorship and buddy programs
    - Internship programs
- **Engineering Culture**: A deep-tech environment where you work on cutting-edge AI hardware (RDUs) and software, pushing the boundaries of AI performance.

## Sources
1. [SambaNova.ai](https://sambanova.ai/)
2. [SambaNova About Us](https://sambanova.ai/company/about)
3. [SambaNova Careers](https://sambanova.ai/company/careers)
4. [SambaNova Job Openings](https://sambanova.ai/company/careers/job-openings)
5. [CB Insights Profile](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/sambanova-systems)

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- [Senior Principal Runtime Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-principal-runtime-engineer-sambanova-systems-stockholm-g80m89md466t) — Stockholm, Sweden
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