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Staff HPC Systems Architect

LambdaSan Jose Office (First St)Data Center Business
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Salary
$314K - $465K USD
Job type
Full-time
Work mode
Remote
Posted
14 Sept 2026
Status
Open · checked 8d ago

About this role

Role Overview

The Staff HPC Systems Architect role involves designing and defining scalable compute platforms optimized for artificial intelligence, machine learning, simulation, and high-throughput workloads. This full-time position is based out of the San Jose office, with a requirement to work on-site four days a week. It is an ideal opportunity for an experienced technical leader who thrives in ambiguous environments and wants to help build top-tier cloud infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

Architect and define scalable compute platforms optimized for AI, ML, simulations, and high-throughput workloads.
Develop compute system standards and design patterns to guarantee consistency, performance, and maintainability across infrastructure.
Assess emerging CPU, GPU, and accelerator technologies while making architectural tradeoff decisions affecting power, cooling, compute density, and total cost.
Partner with product and engineering teams to align workload requirements with compute platform capabilities across bare-metal and cloud environments.
Transform vague business or customer needs into measurable platform requirements, clear technical specifications, acceptance criteria, and architecture decisions.
Formulate compute platform roadmaps and architectural reference designs that direct hardware selection, firmware baselines, rack-level layouts, and cluster design.
Lead technical efforts during new platform introductions by directing validation and performance characterization activities.
Guide and mentor systems engineers and cross-functional partners regarding compute performance tuning, sizing, and architectural choices.

Requirements

Seven or more years of proven experience architecting large-scale 10k to 100k+ GPU high-performance computing or cloud compute platforms.
Deep understanding of CPU and GPU architectures, memory hierarchies, and accelerator topologies.
Practical experience engineering systems around high-bandwidth and low-latency fabrics including NVLink, InfiniBand, and RoCE.
Solid comprehension of system performance tuning, resource scheduling, power and thermal optimization, and compute lifecycle management.
Comfort bridging hardware and software boundaries, particularly where compute architecture intersects with operating system behavior and orchestration layers.
Ability to balance architectural tradeoffs related to density, power efficiency, cooling, and overall performance.
Exceptional analytical and communication abilities with a history of driving technical strategy across multiple teams.
Strong sense of ownership and a proactive, self-starting attitude when navigating ambiguity.

Nice to Have

Hands-on background working directly with AI and machine learning workloads alongside their compute performance profiles.
Familiarity with high-performance computing orchestration tools such as Slurm and Kubernetes.
Practical knowledge of virtualization technologies, specifically GPU virtualization.
Exposure to hardware validation processes, vendor collaborations, and long-term original equipment manufacturer roadmap alignment.
Experience dealing with compute telemetry, real-time performance profiling, or large-scale infrastructure A/B testing.

Skills and Tools

Kubernetes
Slurm
GPU and CPU architecture design
NVLink, InfiniBand, and RoCE fabrics
Compute performance tuning and resource scheduling
Virtualization technologies

Salary and Benefits

Annual salary range of $314,000 to $465,000 USD
Generous cash and equity compensation packages
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employees and dependents
Wellness and commuter stipends for eligible roles
401(k) plan featuring a 2% company match for United States employees
Flexible paid time off program

About the Company

Founded in 2012, Lambda operates as The Superintelligence Cloud, providing advanced AI cloud infrastructure to thousands of customers ranging from academic researchers to major enterprises and hyperscalers. The organization features over 500 fast-growing employees and has published research papers accepted at prominent machine learning and graphics conferences like NeurIPS, ICCV, SIGGRAPH, and TOG. Backed by numerous notable investors and industry partners, the company maintains a public set of core values and operates as an equal opportunity employer.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly on the official company careers page.

Skills and tech stack

Kubernetes

Questions candidates ask

What is the salary range for the Staff HPC Systems Architect?

The annual salary range is set between $314,000 and $465,000 USD, determined by market data and qualifications.

Where is this job located?

The position is based out of the San Jose office, requiring an on-site presence four days per week.

How many years of experience are required?

Candidates must have 7+ years of proven experience architecting large-scale 10k-100k+ GPU HPC or cloud compute platforms.

What benefits are included with employment?

Benefits include cash and equity compensation, health, dental, and vision coverage, wellness and commuter stipends, a 401(k) plan with a 2% company match, and flexible paid time off.

Is remote work permitted for this role?

While the company has a designated work-from-home day on Tuesday, this position requires physical presence in the office four days per week.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Lambda careers page.

Apply on company site