TAMEST Member Profile: Mark Papermaster (NAE), AMD

TAMEST Member Mark Papermaster (NAE) is a visionary technology leader whose four-decade career has helped shape the evolution of modern computing. As the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of AMD, he has been at the helm of the company’s technological transformation, leading the development of its award-winning “Zen” CPU architecture and advancing the capabilities of GPUs and AI-driven computing systems.

Under his leadership, AMD’s innovations have powered the world’s most advanced supercomputers and positioned the company as a global semiconductor leader. Prior to joining AMD, Mr. Papermaster held senior roles at Apple, Cisco and IBM — each contributing to his deep expertise in chip design, systems architecture and cross-functional engineering. Last year, Mr. Papermaster was appointed the Vice Chair of the U.S. Department of Commerce Industrial Advisory Committee (IAC) for the CHIPS for America program.

In February, he became a member of TAMEST when he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his leadership in the design and production of complex integrated circuit processors. Mr. Papermaster is also a passionate advocate for STEM education and innovation, serving on advisory boards at leading institutions and has previously spoken about high-performance technology for AI innovation at the TAMEST 2024 Annual Conference: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning.

TAMEST connected with Mr. Papermaster to discuss his role in guiding the future of technology at AMD, the importance of mentorship and what being a member of TAMEST means to him.

Please tell us a little about yourself and your work. 

I have spent my career in the pursuit of driving the capabilities of semiconductor computing devices. I am currently Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of AMD, responsible for the company’s technical direction and product development. In my 13 years in the role, I had the opportunity to drive the technology turnaround with the redesign of AMD engineering processes, the development of the award-winning “Zen” high-performance x86 CPU family, high-performance GPU and investments in heterogeneous computing partnerships with the U.S. Department of Energy that led to AMD’s computer chips powering the top two most powerful supercomputers in the world.

I had the good fortune to start my career just as the first Personal Computers (PCs) were coming to market and participated in the profound growth of computing’s role across the advent of the internet, mobile computing with iPhones, and now AI everywhere. Before joining AMD in October 2011 as CTO, I was head of Cisco’s Silicon Engineering Group, Apple Senior Vice President of Devices Hardware Engineering responsible for iPod and iPhone products and held multiple IBM leadership roles in technology and product development.

In February 2025, I was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for leadership in the design and production of complex integrated circuit processors, and the prior year I was appointed the Vice Chair of the U.S. Department of Commerce Industrial Advisory Committee (IAC) for the CHIPS for America program.

I am an active member of several boards and committees, including the Global Semiconductor Alliance Board of Directors, IEEE Industry Advisory Board, The University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering Advisory Board, The University of Texas President’s Austin Innovation Board and Purdue University Semiconductor Degrees Leadership Board.

You’ve worked at some of the most influential tech companies — IBM, Apple, Cisco — and now AMD. What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned along the way? 

What I learned from working more than 40 years in the semiconductor industry is that you need an intense passion and courage to take on big challenges. Engineering is about solving problems and constant learning. I am very appreciative to have developed several highly impactful products. Most started with what seemed to be insurmountable challenges.

I started at IBM after completing my Electrical and Computer Engineering training at The University of Texas at Austin. I was recruited to be a part of a small group that was like a start-up in a big company tasked to develop a new type of highly versatile chip in a new technology called CMOS – which has been the vastly deployed standard since that time. We had to be scrappy and develop a lot of the technology and tools ourselves, span many disciplines, and work closely with the IBM engineers in the semiconductor manufacturing facility next to our design team. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was a training ground to be creative in solving barriers and to collaborate across teams while learning as much as you can about all the elements around product design.

At Apple, there is of course the storied launch of the iPhone 4. It was a breakthrough front and back glass design, advanced computing capability, high-resolution camera and the first launch of FaceTime, which changed the role a phone could play in connecting people. I learned the importance of end product vision. Scope creep is one of the biggest killers of potentially great products if you don’t stick to a clear vision and key value propositions. At Apple, I learned the importance of driving vast engineering details and dependency groups that had to come together to deliver a great product experience, and this beautiful phone became a best seller due to its new attributes.

At AMD, I could not be prouder of the team for catching the competition and implementing the leadership Zen CPU family which was the technology that powered the AMD turnaround. Now in its fifth generation, our Zen journey embodies a culture of managed risk-taking and problem-solving. I remember during our second-generation chip design, we ran into a problem with a part of the chip so daunting that we would miss our window to market. By catching the problems early enough, and tapping the innovation of the team, we implemented a backup path that ended up exceeding our original expectations.

Big challenges are daunting, but by embracing the culture of managed risk-taking and problem-solving, teams can come together to achieve great things.

You’re deeply involved in education and mentoring through various university boards. What advice would you give young people starting out in tech today?

My advice to young people starting out in tech is to embrace the challenges and never shy away from opportunities that push your boundaries. The tech industry is always evolving, and the ability to adapt, learn and innovate is crucial.

Focus on building a strong foundation in your field of interest but also cultivate a broad understanding of related disciplines. Collaboration and communication are key. The most successful projects often come from diverse teams working together to solve complex problems.

Engage actively with mentors, constantly network, seek out real-world experiences and stay curious. Remember, the journey in tech is not just about mastering the latest technologies but about contributing to meaningful advancements and creating products that are impactful.

AMD plays a big role in shaping the future of computing. How do you see the industry changing over the next five to 10 years?

The impact and growth of AI over the next five to 10 years will be profound, revolutionizing various aspects of technology and society. AI will drive advancements in nearly every field, including health care, finance and manufacturing, by enabling more efficient and accurate data analysis and decision-making processes.

At AMD, we are harnessing the power of AI and ML to develop cutting-edge solutions that address complex computational challenges. Our focus is on creating highly efficient and scalable processors that support AI workloads, paving the way for innovative applications and services. The continuous integration of AI into our products will not only enhance performance but also open new avenues for industry growth and transformation.

What makes you most passionate about your work? 

For me, it’s an opportunity to collaborate with incredibly smart and talented individuals who are equally dedicated to tackling the industry’s most formidable challenges. It’s exhilarating to be part of an environment where innovation thrives and where we push the boundaries of what’s possible every day.

As CTO, I meet with customers to not only share our solutions, but more importantly, to listen to and understand the challenges they see ahead. This becomes inspiration for our future products. Witnessing the evolution of industry first-hand, especially with the rapid advancements in AI, is truly inspiring. AI is at the forefront of a technological revolution and there’s still so much potential to unlock.

The developments we’ve seen so far are just beginning. AI promises to transform everything from health care to computing infrastructure and that excites me beyond measure. I am eager to see how we will continue to drive progress and make impactful contributions.

This year you became a member of TAMEST when you were elected to the National Academy of Engineering for your leadership in the design and production of complex integrated circuit processors. What was your reaction to finding out about your election?

 I am thrilled to be a part of TAMEST. Being elected to the National Academy of Engineering was an unexpected and deeply humbling experience. I am profoundly grateful for this recognition.

I’ve been fortunate to be a part of phenomenal technology and products for over four decades. This honor underscores the importance of innovation and teamwork in driving progress within the semiconductor industry.

Prior to your election, you spoke at the TAMEST 2024 Annual Conference in Austin on artificial intelligence and machine learning. How is AMD currently utilizing AI and ML to stay competitive in the industry?  

When I was invited to speak at the TAMEST 2024 Annual Conference, I found the agenda topics and side conversations to be highly relevant, engaging and innovation provoking.

AMD is at the forefront of incorporating artificial intelligence across its broad product portfolio, which is one of the industry’s most extensive. This includes a range of high-performance computing from supercomputing, data centers, enterprise, PCs and embedded devices. All are not designed to accelerate AI and machine learning applications.

By integrating AI capabilities into our products, we are enabling more intelligent and efficient processing, which drives innovation and performance across various applications and industries. Our commitment to AI ensures that we remain competitive and continue to deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. 

Why do you live and work in Texas? 

Texas is very special for me. After graduating high school in Galveston and attending The University of Texas at Austin for my undergraduate degree, there has always been a homing beacon calling me back to Texas.

We returned from Silicon Valley back to Austin in 2017 (helped by our kids and grandkids all being in Texas). I am committed to growing the technical community and networking in Texas, a lesson we can take from Silicon Valley. I feel privileged to contribute to the technological advancements here and to be part of a state that continuously fosters innovation and growth.