CPU Power Optimization Engineer

Intel

📍Austin, TX
Posted May 20, 2026

Job Overview

Position

CPU Power Optimization Engineer

Company

Intel

Location

Austin, TX

Work Type

On-site

Job ID

li-4395475345

Job Description

Job Details
Job Description:

Do Something Wonderful!
Intel creates world-changing technology that improves the lives of every person on the planet. Join us as we continue to innovate in high‑performance, low‑power CPU design.

Who We Are
Our CPU design organization delivers cutting-edge microprocessors with industry‑leading performance per watt. We build CPUs for desktops, servers, laptops, and emerging product families, consistently pushing IPC and power efficiency forward.

Who You Are
In this role on the Silicon Engineering Group, you will focus on
power analysis and low‑power optimization for Intel CPUs
. You will partner closely with design and architecture teams to drive solutions that elevate power efficiency and advance our product leadership.

Your Responsibilities Will Include, But Not Limited To

  • Drive power optimization efforts across architecture and RTL

  • Identify opportunities to reduce dynamic and leakage power

  • Propose and guide implementation of low‑power RTL changes

  • Conduct feature‑ and workload‑based power analysis

  • Close gaps between measured and targeted power on CPUs in development

  • Develop and enhance power analysis and optimization methodologies

  • Collaborate with architecture and RTL owners to deliver measurable results

  • Provide recommendations for future CPU power architecture

Qualifications
You must possess the minimum education requirements and minimum required qualifications to be initially considered for this position. Additional preferred qualifications are in addition to the minimum requirements and are considered a plus factor in identifying top candidates.

Minimum Qualifications And Experience
The candidate must have a Bachelor's degree in electrical/computer engineering, computer science or related field with 4+ years of experience. Or a Master's degree in the same fields with 3+ years of experience or a PhD in in the same fields with 1+ years of experience.

Your Experience Described Above Must Be In The Following

  • Low-power CPU design

  • Dynamic and leakage power estimation and reduction at architecture, RTL, block synthesis, or circuit level

  • RTL design and RTL-level power optimization strategies

Preferred Qualifications

  • Proficiency with industry‑standard power estimation tools

  • Scripting/automation skills

  • Good understanding of CPU architecture and SoC‑level power behavior

  • Experience driving RTL-level power optimization in collaboration with design teams

  • Familiarity with Intel CPU architectures (strong plus)

Job Type
Experienced Hire

Shift
Shift 1 (United States of America)

Primary Location:

US, Texas, Austin

Additional Locations:

US, Oregon, Hillsboro

Business Group
Silicon and Platform Engineering Group (SPE): Deliver breakthrough silicon and platform solutions that deliver industry-leading products today while also defining the next generation of computing experiences.

Posting Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.

Position of Trust

N/A

Benefits
We offer a total compensation package that ranks among the best in the industry. It consists of competitive pay, stock bonuses, and benefit programs which include health, retirement, and vacation. Find out more about the benefits of working at Intel.

Annual Salary Range for jobs which could be performed in the US: $141,910.00 - 200,340.00 USD

The range displayed on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target compensation for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific compensation range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Work Model for this Role
This role will require an on-site presence. * Job posting details (such as work model, location or time type) are subject to change.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Intel is committed to Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) compliance and ethical hiring practices. We do not charge any fees during our hiring process. Candidates should never be required to pay recruitment fees, medical examination fees, or any other charges as a condition of employment. If you are asked to pay any fees during our hiring process, please report this immediately to your recruiter.

Interview Prep

AI-powered insights to help you prepare

Key Skills

Required:
Preferred:

Practice Questions

💡Technical Questions (3)
  • 1.How do you approach reducing both dynamic and leakage power at the RTL level, and what specific techniques do you apply for each?
  • 2.Can you describe your methodology for conducting workload-based power analysis and identifying optimization opportunities?
  • 3.When closing the gap between targeted power and measured power on a CPU in development, how do you diagnose and address the discrepancies?
🎯Behavioral Questions (3)
  • 1.Tell me about a time you drove a power optimization effort that required collaboration with resistant RTL or architecture design teams.
  • 2.Describe a situation where you had to develop or enhance a power analysis methodology because the existing process was inadequate.
  • 3.Give an example of a time you had to provide recommendations for a future CPU power architecture based on your current project's limitations.
🧩Situational Questions (2)
  • 1.You are analyzing a new CPU block and notice the dynamic power is significantly higher than the architectural target, but the RTL owner insists the design is already heavily optimized. How do you proceed?
  • 2.You are tasked with reducing power on an Intel CPU but have limited knowledge of the specific Intel architecture it uses. How do you get up to speed and start delivering results quickly?

Resume Keywords

Make sure these keywords appear on your resume

Low-power CPU designDynamic power reductionLeakage power reductionRTL optimizationPower analysisWorkload profilingClock gatingPower estimation toolsScripting automationSoC power behaviorMicroarchitectureSilicon engineering

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