I’m guessing you are referring system architect. Probably not a straight forward path to become system architect especially in IP. It applies to Design engineers too. You probably would pick up programming skills from your day job but actual algos and IP knowledge you have to work on outside.
One can be a DV architect.
fake news
As long as your sw skills are strong, you should be able to make an internal transition from DV into a modeling role and then from there into a more feature arch or sys arch role. I see that happen more in the GPU and SoC orgs than CPU core side.
This. Having DV workload, one is not going to easily have the time/energy to learn all the caveats of arch, espescially the performance part. Need to take a step to perf modelling (not functional modelling) to get a comfortable ride to arch.
The perf part is key for arch roles
I think architect is always the niche, dv jobs will be much higher due to increasing silicon complexity, but architect plans the product and actually the roadmap. So in higher positions,architect will have it easy move up the ladder. Non fellow/distinguished level positions both should pay similar.
I just hate being a punching bag and source of stress for the larger org. Everyone hates spending money on DV
Hi OP - can you share which org you’re in at Apple? Was recently reached out to about an embedded swe role in DV and am looking for peoples opinions