Memory Systems Architect

Project

Work done for a product or program.

• Define the memory hierarchy and media mix for target platforms, choosing among HBM, DDR, LPDDR, GDDR, CXL-attached DRAM and NAND tiers.
• Characterise target workloads — LLM training and inference, in-memory databases, mobile app launch, automotive sensor fusion — for bandwidth, capacity, footprint and access pattern.
• Build analytic and trace-driven simulation models to project achievable bandwidth, latency and effective capacity per configuration.
• Set requirements for controller, PHY and DRAM teams including channel count, data rate, queue depths, RAS features and power state behaviour.
• Own the memory power and thermal budget at system level, including DIMM or module thermal limits and refresh power at high temperature.
• Produce total-cost-of-ownership and bill-of-materials analyses comparing memory configurations for the platform business case.
• Evaluate emerging options — processing-in-memory, 3D DRAM, memory-semantic fabrics, SCM tiers — and recommend adoption timing.
• Lead architecture reviews and resolve conflicting requirements across performance, power, cost and reliability stakeholders.

Function

Work that keeps the discipline running: methods, tools, suppliers and people.

• Drive roadmap alignment with DRAM and NAND suppliers or, on the supplier side, with major platform customers and CPU vendors.
• Mentor design and modelling engineers and act as the technical authority in customer and standards engagements.

Project

1. Produce and hand over the role's key deliverables
   • Memory subsystem architecture specification per platform
   • Workload characterisation and bandwidth/capacity projection models
   • Requirements documents for controller, PHY and media teams
   • System memory power and thermal budget
   • TCO and BOM comparison of memory configurations
   • Multi-generation memory roadmap recommendation
2. Define the architectureGeneral
   • Collect and clarify the product requirements
   • Build performance and power models
   • Write and baseline the architecture specification
3. Support implementationGeneral
   • Answer specification questions from design and verification
   • Assess the impact of proposed changes
   • Compare results with the original targets

Function

1. Build the architecture practiceGeneral
   • Keep modelling tools and reference models current
   • Publish design guidelines and specification templates
2. Plan aheadGeneral
   • Study workload and technology trends
   • Contribute to the product roadmap