Sr. Staff Platform Power Delivery Network Engineer

Details

About Groq

Groq delivers fast, efficient AI inference. Our LPU-based system powers GroqCloud™, giving businesses and developers the speed and scale they need. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we are on a mission to make high performance AI compute more accessible and affordable. When real-time AI is within reach, anything is possible. Build fast.

Mission:

End-to-end power delivery network design of Groq’s next-gen platform to enable state-of-the-art AI/ML workloads, and guide future hardware development of the most advanced AI accelerator on the market.

Responsibilities & Opportunities in this Role:

• Full-Stack Power Delivery Design

  • Design state-of-the-art multi-stage power delivery network (>48V intermediate bus architectures, POL regulators, on-package IVRs).
  • Model and optimize impedance from bulk VRMs (Voltage Regulator Modules) to die-level power rails, including PCB planes, interposers, and TSVs.
  • Implement adaptive voltage scaling (AVS) and dynamic current balancing for load-agnostic efficiency.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Work closely with system lead engineers and power integrity engineers to minimize PDN impedance through plane-pair optimization, via stitching, and low-ESL decoupling strategies.
  • Guide silicon and packaging teams on integrating embedded regulators (e.g., FIVRs) and on-die capacitance for GHz-frequency transient response.
  • Work with platform and datacenter architects to define power budgets and redundancy schemes for >48V-to-1V conversion chains.

• Simulation & Validation

  • Support power integrity checks using AC/DC analysis, load-step time-domain simulations in SPICE to meet target impedance.
  • Validate PDN using Bode plots, loop stability, and impedance measurements with vector network analyzer (VNA).
  • Characterize system efficiency using precision power analyzers and thermal chambers.

• TCO & Efficiency Optimization

  • Reduce I²R losses through copper weight optimization and low-resistance interconnect materials.
  • Investigate deployment of advanced topologies: vertical power delivery networks, multi-phase interleaved buck converters, GaN-based VRMs, and high-voltage busbars.
  • Analyze trade-offs between different power distribution architectures for hyperscale systems deployed in the datacenter.
  • Work closely with industry partners and vendors to identify cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions for Groq’s current and future platforms.

Apply If You Can:

• Can articulate trade-offs between LLC resonant converters vs. buck-derived topologies for VRMs.
• Have debugged ground loops causing efficiency loss in multi-board systems.
• Understand how PDN Z_target = ΔV / ΔI relates to load-step scenarios.

Ideal Candidates Have/Are:

• Degree in electrical engineering, power electronics, semiconductor device physics, or a related discipline.
• Hands-on experience constructing, testing, and delivering PDN designs for high-load current and high-load step applications, involving multi-stage voltage conversion.
• Hands-on testing experience of VRM Bode plots, loop stability analysis, and PDN impedance measurements.
• Substantial background in analog circuit design, emphasizing switched-mode power converters and linear power regulators.
• Experience utilizing switched mode circuit design and simulation tools, such as SIMPLIS and LTSpice, is a plus.
• Experience with high-voltage direct-to-chip architectures and knowledge of wide-bandgap semiconductors (SiC, GaN) for high-frequency VRMs, is a plus.
• Experience with AI/ML workload power profiling and adaptive PDN tuning, 3D IC packaging (EMIB, CoWoS) and silicon interposer PDNs.
• Exceptional teamwork, communication, and documentation skills.
• The ability to learn new concepts rapidly, comprehensively, and independently.
• A high degree of self-motivation and personal accountability.
• The ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with significant time constraints.

Attributes of a Groqster:

• Humility - Egos are checked at the door.
• Collaborative & Team Savvy - We make up the smartest person in the room, together.
• Growth & Giver Mindset - Learn it all versus know it all, we share knowledge generously.
• Curious & Innovative - Take a creative approach to projects, problems, and design.
• Passion, Grit, & Boldness - no limit thinking, fueling informed risk-taking.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!

Compensation:

At Groq, a competitive base salary is part of our comprehensive compensation package, which includes equity and benefits. For this role, the base salary range is $230,000 to $275,000 determined by your skills, qualifications, experience and internal benchmarks.