SiFive arrives in Cambridge to hire 100 for ascendant RISC-V computing
SiFive, the California-based founder and leader of RISC-V computing, has opened its new UK Research & Development (R&D) Centre at WeWork on Station Road – and is looking for 100 new hires.
The development is set to reconfigure the way chip design is implemented in everything from smartphones to data centres – and, with an astonishing $365.5m raised to date, SiFive’s model could pose an existential threat to Arm, which has responded with vigour to the challenge.
SiFive was founded by the inventors of RISC-V, who started developing RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA) in 2010. RISC-V computing uses an open standard ISA based on established RISC (reduced instruction set computing) principles.
SiFive was then founded in San Mateo in 2015, and currently employs more than 700 people. Its core designer product allows users to build their own processor configuration, which liberates companies from the pre-defined core architecture favoured by other chip designers.
SiFive is “transforming the future of compute by bringing the limitless potential of RISC-V to the highest performance and most data-intensive applications in the world”. Its architecture is engaged in every segment including chip design, AI, machine learning, automotive, data centre, mobile, and consumer.
In March the company announced a $175m series F funding round, bringing the funding over six rounds to $365.5m.
The launch in Cambridge’s WeWork facility on Station Road comes with a challenging goal at a time when talent is the ultimate scarcity in global science and technology. SiFive is looking to fill 100 new roles in Cambridge including in CPU design, architecture, verification, software development, sales, and customer experience (CX).
“The market demand for SiFive’s leading RISC-V cores is unprecedented, providing an incredible opportunity for both seasoned and up-and-coming talent to join us in delivering innovative solutions to customers who represent an elite list of leading global technology brands,” said Patrick Little, CEO and chairman, SiFive.
“As part of our global expansion, we’re proud to open our UK R&D centre in Cambridge to access the considerable local technical talent, especially CPU experts. We offer a chance to work alongside true industry pioneers to develop critical technology that is fundamentally changing the way the computer industry does business.
“With long-term plans to grow talent and teams in Cambridge and across the UK, we are looking for employees who want to make an impact, working on some of SiFive’s highest performance products. It’s a great chance to join us early in our growth in the UK and beyond.”
Minister for investment, Lord Grimstone, said: “This investment is a fantastic opportunity to be part of SiFive’s growing team in the UK and work alongside the co-creators of RISC-V, and is a great compliment to the UK and its future.”
Dr Nik Johnson, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “Our workforce has some of the brightest minds in technology and our region is a dynamic, exciting place to do business. I’m delighted to see more world-class technology companies – such as SiFive – drawn to Cambridge.
“Once again our dedicated Growth Works inward investment service has played an important role in helping another globally competitive tech company choose our region as a place to invest.”
An Arm spokesperson told the Cambridge Independent: “With a vast computational footprint represented by more than 225 billion Arm-based chips shipped, Arm is committed to defining the future of computing and empowering our ecosystem to innovate on the Arm architecture.”
