Digital ASIC Architect (M/F/D)

DSJ Global; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

DSJ Global is seeking an experienced Principal Digital ASIC / SoC Architect to own the digital ASIC/SoC architecture from concept to silicon. You will translate system requirements into detailed silicon architectures, lead HW/SW partitioning, and direct external partners through the full ASIC lifecycle.

The role demands strong technical leadership and proven decision-making across power, performance and area trade-offs.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in digital ASIC/SoC architecture and development.
• Ability to translate system requirements into silicon architectures.
• Knowledge of processors, DSPs, memory, interfaces and digital subsystems.
• Strong HW/SW partitioning and decision-making for architecture trade-offs.
• Experience with FPGA prototyping, modelling and verification.

Responsibilities

• Own the digital ASIC/SoC architecture from requirements through silicon acceptance.
• Translate high-level requirements into detailed architectures and specs.
• Define architectures including processors, DSPs, interfaces and compute functions.
• Lead hardware/software partitioning and IP selection decisions.
• Evaluate approaches including custom silicon and external IP.
• Lead trade-offs across power, performance, area, cost and risk.
• Define deliverables for external partners and govern outsourced development.
• Lead architecture reviews and manage technical risks early.
• Support validation using modelling, simulation, formal verification, FPGA prototyping.

Skills

Digital ASIC/SoC architecture

Hardware/software partitioning

RTL to silicon lifecycle

FPGA prototyping

System requirements to silicon

Leadership & technical authority

Tools

FPGA/HDL modelling tools

Simulation/verification tools

Formal verification

Job description

An international technology organisation is looking for an experienced Principal Digital ASIC / SoC Architect to take technical ownership of complex custom silicon developments.

You’ll operate between system architecture and detailed ASIC development, converting high‑level product requirements into implementable digital architectures and providing technical direction throughout the development lifecycle.

The role offers significant influence over how future semiconductor solutions are architected, selected, developed and ultimately brought into production.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the digital ASIC / SoC architecture from initial system requirements through implementation, verification, integration and silicon acceptance.
• Translate high‑level requirements into detailed architectures, technical specifications and acceptance criteria.
• Define architectures incorporating processors, DSPs, digital interfaces, control logic and specialised compute functions.
• Make architectural decisions around hardware/software partitioning, IP selection and subsystem integration.
• Evaluate different implementation approaches, including custom silicon, third‑party semiconductor solutions and reusable IP.
• Lead architectural trade‑offs across power, performance, area, cost, reliability, testability and development risk.
• Define requirements and technical deliverables for external ASIC and semiconductor development partners.
• Provide technical governance throughout outsourced or partner‑led semiconductor developments.
• Lead architecture and design reviews, challenging assumptions and identifying technical risks early.
• Support architecture validation using techniques such as modelling, simulation, formal verification and FPGA prototyping.
• Provide technical support through implementation, verification, integration and initial silicon evaluation.
• Contribute to longer‑term semiconductor technology and architecture roadmaps.
• Mentor engineers and act as a senior technical authority across digital ASIC development.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in digital ASIC / SoC architecture and development.
• Strong knowledge of digital IC architecture beyond purely RTL implementation.
• Experience translating system‑level requirements into implementable silicon architectures.
• Knowledge of processors, DSPs, memory, interfaces and digital subsystems.
• Strong understanding of hardware/software partitioning.
• Experience balancing power, performance and area (PPA) against cost, risk and implementation constraints.
• Understanding of the complete ASIC lifecycle from architecture through RTL, verification, physical implementation and silicon.
• Experience defining specifications and acceptance criteria for complex semiconductor developments.
• Exposure to external ASIC design houses, IP suppliers or semiconductor development partners.
• Knowledge of FPGA prototyping, modelling, simulation or formal verification would be beneficial.
• Strong technical decision‑making and the ability to influence multidisciplinary engineering teams.