About this opportunity:
Control-plane software - from Layer 3 (L3) traffic control in mobile networks to microservice-based control planes in telecom and cloud - behaves very differently from the compute-heavy workloads common in CPU benchmarking (e.g., SPEC CPU, HPC, ML training). These workloads are typically front-end and memory-system bound rather than compute bound: low IPC, high branch mispredictions, large instruction footprints causing L1-I/iTLB misses, and pointer-chasing that stalls the back end. CPU microarchitecture is often tuned using representative benchmarks, but this workload class is underrepresented in open suites because real control-plane applications are large, proprietary, and hard to deploy. The result is a genuine gap: there is no open benchmark that faithfully reproduces the microarchitectural behavior of large control-plane software.
What you will do:
The goal is to characterize the microarchitectural behavior of a large control-plane application and build an open-source, configurable benchmark proxy that reproduces it - providing a shareable, non-proprietary tool for CPU architecture exploration. The work will include:
- Characterize a representative control-plane workload (e.g., Layer 3 traffic control or an open control-plane/microservice proxy) using hardware performance counters and top-down analysis (front-end bound, bad speculation, back-end bound, retiring).
- Extract a portable workload signature: IPC, top-down breakdown, branch MPKI, BTB/iTLB/L1-I behavior, cache MPKI, and memory-level parallelism.
- Design and implement a parameterized synthetic benchmark in C/C++ that can independently stress the front end, branch predictor, and back end, tunable to a target signature.
- Calibrate and validate fidelity across at least two CPU microarchitectures (e.g., x86 and Arm), then release the benchmark as open source with documentation and a "signature → config" recipe.
The skills you bring:
- Master's students in electrical engineering, computer science, or related field
- Programming experience in Python (and/or C++, Rust)
- Basic knowledge of machine learning and/or reinforcement learning
- Interest in 3GPP protocol layers (RRC/L3)
- Strong teamwork; suitable for two students with a split focus:- One leaning toward protocols/systems- One leaning toward ML
Why join Ericsson?
At Ericsson, you'll have an outstanding opportunity. The chance to use your skills and imagination to push the boundaries of what's possible. To build solutions never seen before to some of the world's toughest problems. You'll be challenged, but you won't be alone. You'll be joining a team of diverse innovators, all driven to go beyond the status quo to craft what comes next.
What happens once you apply?
Click Here to find all you need to know about what our typical hiring process looks like.Encouraging a diverse and inclusive organization is core to our values at Ericsson, that's why we champion it in everything we do. We truly believe that by collaborating with people with different experiences we drive innovation, which is essential for our future growth. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply and realize their full potential as part of our Ericsson team. Ericsson is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. learn more.
Primary country and city: Sweden (SE) || Linköping
Req ID: 791413
Skills Required
- Currently pursuing a master's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field
- Programming experience in Python and/or C++ or Rust
- Basic knowledge of machine learning and/or reinforcement learning
- Interest in 3GPP protocol layers, including RRC or Layer 3
- Strong teamwork skills
What the Team is Saying
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Ericsson Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as broad and reliable, with multiple medical plan choices, dental/vision, and mental-health/EAP resources. Available descriptions highlight healthcare and disability insurance as consistent strengths.
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Retirement Support — U.S. materials point to an automatic company 401(k) contribution plus matching that can add up to a notably high employer contribution, and some regions also offer pension options. This structure is often cited as a meaningful component of total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off programs are characterized as generous, with sizable vacation allowances, paid holidays, sick time, volunteer time, and strong parental leave in some locations. PTO is frequently highlighted as a standout element of the package.
Ericsson Insights
What We Do
Ericsson builds the digital connectivity the world relies on. Our technology underpins the mobile networks, platforms, and systems that billions of people, businesses, and societies depend on every day. We are a global leader in communications technology, delivering mobile network infrastructure, cloud software, and wireless connectivity solutions for service providers and enterprises worldwide. Our networks support connectivity across 180+ countries, helping power everyday communication as well as critical digital services at global scale. Connectivity has evolved far beyond consumer mobile use. Today, nearly 80% of the world’s population accesses the internet via mobile networks, and Ericsson is helping shape what comes next. We are advancing 5G and 5G Advanced, developing network APIs that open connectivity to the global developer ecosystem, and applying automation and AI to make networks more intelligent, efficient, and resilient. Ericsson was the first company to launch live 5G networks on five continents, and our 5G platform is now commercially live in 150+ networks across 60+ countries. We also support more than 36,000 enterprise customers, enabling secure, high-performance connectivity for industries such as manufacturing, aviation, logistics, utilities, and public safety, where reliability and performance are mission critical. Innovation is central to how we work. Ericsson has approximately 28,000 employees in research and development, backed by one of the strongest intellectual property portfolios in the industry with 60,000+ granted patents. Our engineers, researchers, and technologists work across 100+ global R&D sites, helping define how networks evolve and how digital infrastructure is built for the long term. As the world moves toward a mobile-first, AI-powered, and cloud-driven future, connectivity becomes the foundation for digital transformation across every industry. Ericsson is building that foundation, shaping the future of digital connectivity through technology that operates at global scale and supports real-world impact, today and for what comes next.
Why Work With Us
Ericsson is a place for people who want to work on technology that powers everyday life. You’ll contribute to large-scale systems used every day, tackle complex challenges in live environments, and keep developing your skills and career in your own vision.
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Ericsson Offices
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Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
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